Florida lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation to establish voting rights for residents affected by natural disasters.
Sen. Tina Polsky and Rep. Lindsay Cross filed SB 1486 and HB 1317, respectively, would standardize emergency voting measures across affected counties, ensuring displaced voters have access to expanded vote-by-mail options, extended early voting periods, and additional election infrastructure support.
The measures would allow voters in disaster-designated counties to request a vote-by-mail ballots by phone, email, or in writing without submitting the standard statewide form. Completed ballots could then be returned to any elections office statewide or at polling locations on Election Day.
Ballots postmarked by Election Day would be counted if received within two days, and voters would have until 5 p.m. on the fourth day following an election to address signature discrepancies.
“Natural disasters shouldn’t prevent voters from casting a ballot. During the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, thousands of residents in my district were scrambling to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives. With their polling places also underwater, the last thing they needed to worry about is where, how, or if they could vote,” Cross said.
Early voting in affected counties would begin 15 days before an election and continue through Election Day. Election supervisors would be authorized to establish up to three emergency early voting sites, deploy mobile polling stations, and expand secure ballot intake locations, including Election Day drop-offs.
The legislation also mandates state-level election preparedness measures. The Division of Elections would be required to present an emergency elections contingency plan to the Legislature and create a centralized website for voters to request vote-by-mail ballots during emergencies. The state would provide funding to cover return postage for ballots, voter education efforts, and additional staffing for early voting sites.
Moreover, the state would maintain three regional election equipment reserves stocked with ballot printers, tabulators, electronic poll books, and other necessary voting infrastructure.
The bills contain largely identical provisions, with minor differences in procedural language regarding election contingency plans and notification requirements for supervisors of elections.
“It is common sense to make sure that voters in all counties affected by a disaster have the same opportunities to vote. Our state prides itself on common sense and freedom – let’s ensure those in disaster areas, regardless of which county they live in, have the same access to the ballot as they recover and rebuild their lives,” said Amy Keith, Common Cause Florida Executive Director.
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