Florida Statutes
Chapter 101 - Voting Methods and Procedure
101.657 - Early Voting.



(1)(a) As a convenience to the voter, the supervisor of elections shall allow an elector to vote early in the main or branch office of the supervisor. The supervisor shall mark, code, indicate on, or otherwise track the voter’s precinct for each early voted ballot. In order for a branch office to be used for early voting, it shall be a permanent facility of the supervisor and shall have been designated and used as such for at least 1 year prior to the election. The supervisor may also designate any city hall, permanent public library facility, fairground, civic center, courthouse, county commission building, stadium, convention center, government-owned senior center, or government-owned community center as an early voting site; however, if so designated, the sites must be geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is practicable, and must provide sufficient nonpermitted parking to accommodate the anticipated amount of voters. In addition, a supervisor may designate one early voting site per election in an area of the county that does not have any of the eligible early voting locations. Such additional early voting site must be geographically located so as to provide all voters in that area with an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is practicable, and must provide sufficient nonpermitted parking to accommodate the anticipated amount of voters. Each county shall, at a minimum, operate the same total number of early voting sites for a general election which the county operated for the 2012 general election. The results or tabulation of votes cast during early voting may not be made before the close of the polls on election day. Results shall be reported by precinct.
(b) The supervisor shall designate each early voting site by no later than the 30th day prior to an election and shall designate an early voting area, as defined in s. 97.021, at each early voting site. The supervisor shall provide to the division no later than the 30th day before an election the address of each early voting site and the hours that early voting will occur at each site.
(c) All early voting sites in a county shall allow any person in line at the closing of an early voting site to vote.
(d) Early voting shall begin on the 10th day before an election that contains state or federal races and end on the 3rd day before the election, and shall be provided for no less than 8 hours and no more than 12 hours per day at each site during the applicable period. In addition, early voting may be offered at the discretion of the supervisor of elections on the 15th, 14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, or 2nd day before an election that contains state or federal races for at least 8 hours per day, but not more than 12 hours per day. The supervisor of elections may provide early voting for elections that are not held in conjunction with a state or federal election. However, the supervisor has the discretion to determine the hours of operation of early voting sites in those elections.
(e) Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 100.3605, municipalities may provide early voting in municipal elections that are not held in conjunction with county or state elections. If a municipality provides early voting, it may designate as many sites as necessary and shall conduct its activities in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a)-(c). The supervisor is not required to conduct early voting if it is provided pursuant to this subsection.
(f) Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 189.04, special districts may provide early voting in any district election not held in conjunction with county or state elections. If a special district provides early voting, it may designate as many sites as necessary and shall conduct its activities in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a)-(c). The supervisor is not required to conduct early voting if it is provided pursuant to this subsection.

(2) During any early voting period, each supervisor shall make available the total number of voters casting a ballot at each early voting location and the total number of vote-by-mail ballots received under s. 101.69(2) during the previous day. Each supervisor shall prepare an electronic data file listing the individual voters who cast a ballot during the early voting period. This information shall be provided in electronic format as provided by rule adopted by the division. The information shall be updated and made available no later than noon of each day and shall be contemporaneously provided to the division.
(3) The ballot of each elector voting early shall be counted even if the elector dies on or before election day.

(4)(a) The elector must provide identification and must complete an Early Voting Voter Certificate in substantially the following form:
EARLY VOTING VOTER CERTIFICATE
I,  , am a qualified elector in this election and registered voter of   County, Florida. I do solemnly swear or affirm that I am the person so listed on the voter registration rolls of   County and that I reside at the listed address. I understand that if I commit or attempt to commit fraud in connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more than once in an election I could be convicted of a felony of the third degree and both fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for up to 5 years. I understand that my failure to sign this certificate invalidates my ballot.
  (Voter’s Signature)  
  (Address)  
  (City/State)  

(b) Any elector may challenge an elector seeking to vote early under the provisions of s. 101.111. Any challenged voter must vote a provisional ballot. The canvassing board shall review the ballot and decide the validity of the ballot by majority vote.
(c) The canvass of returns for ballots cast under this subsection shall be substantially the same as votes cast by electors in precincts, as provided in s. 101.5614.

History.—s. 17, ch. 98-129; s. 2, ch. 2000-249; s. 55, ch. 2001-40; s. 21, ch. 2003-415; s. 7, ch. 2004-232; s. 13, ch. 2004-252; s. 45, ch. 2005-277; s. 39, ch. 2005-278; s. 39, ch. 2011-40; s. 13, ch. 2013-57; s. 57, ch. 2014-22; ss. 10, 18, ch. 2019-162; s. 17, ch. 2020-2.

Structure Florida Statutes

Florida Statutes

Title IX - Electors and Elections

Chapter 101 - Voting Methods and Procedure

101.001 - Precincts and Polling Places; Boundaries.

101.002 - Use of System by Municipalities.

101.015 - Standards for Voting Systems.

101.017 - Bureau of Voting Systems Certification.

101.019 - Ranked-Choice Voting Prohibited.

101.021 - Elector to Vote the Primary Ballot of the Political Party in Which He or She Is Registered.

101.031 - Instructions for Electors.

101.041 - Secret Voting.

101.043 - Identification Required at Polls.

101.045 - Electors Must Be Registered in Precinct; Provisions for Change of Residence or Name.

101.048 - Provisional Ballots.

101.049 - Provisional Ballots; Special Circumstances.

101.051 - Electors Seeking Assistance in Casting Ballots; Oath to Be Executed; Forms to Be Furnished.

101.111 - Voter Challenges.

101.131 - Watchers at Polls.

101.151 - Specifications for Ballots.

101.161 - Referenda; Ballots.

101.171 - Copy of Constitutional Amendment to Be Available at Voting Locations.

101.20 - Publication of Ballot Form; Sample Ballots.

101.21 - Official Ballots; Number; Printing; Payment.

101.23 - Election Inspector to Keep List of Those Voting.

101.24 - Ballot Boxes and Ballots.

101.2512 - Candidates’ Names on General Election Ballots.

101.2515 - Translation of Ballot Language.

101.252 - Candidates Entitled to Have Names Printed on Certain Ballots; Exception.

101.254 - When Nominated Names to Appear in Groups or Districts.

101.292 - Definitions; Ss. 101.292-101.295.

101.293 - Competitive Sealed Bids and Proposals Required.

101.294 - Purchase and Sale of Voting Equipment.

101.295 - Penalties for Violation.

101.34 - Custody of Voting System.

101.341 - Prohibited Activities by Voting System Custodians and Deputy Custodians.

101.43 - Substitute Ballot.

101.49 - Procedure of Election Officers Where Signatures Differ.

101.51 - Electors to Occupy Booth Alone.

101.545 - Retention and Destruction of Certain Election Materials.

101.5601 - Short Title.

101.5602 - Purpose.

101.5603 - Definitions Relating to Electronic Voting Systems Act.

101.5604 - Adoption of System; Procurement of Equipment; Commercial Tabulations.

101.56042 - Punch Card Type Systems Prohibited.

101.5605 - Examination and Approval of Equipment.

101.5606 - Requirements for Approval of Systems.

101.56062 - Standards for Accessible Voting Systems.

101.56063 - Accessibility of Voting Systems and Polling Places; Intent; Eligibility for Federal Funding.

101.56064 - Application for Federal Funds Under Ch. 2002-281.

101.56065 - Voting System Defects; Disclosure; Investigations; Penalties.

101.5607 - Department of State to Maintain Voting System Information; Prepare Software.

101.56075 - Voting Methods.

101.5608 - Voting by Electronic or Electromechanical Method; Procedures.

101.5610 - Inspection of Ballot by Election Board.

101.5611 - Instructions to Electors.

101.5612 - Testing of Tabulating Equipment.

101.5613 - Examination of Equipment During Voting.

101.5614 - Canvass of Returns.

101.572 - Public Inspection of Ballots.

101.58 - Supervising and Observing Registration and Election Processes.

101.591 - Voting System Audit.

101.5911 - Rulemaking Authority for Voting System Audit Procedures.

101.595 - Analysis and Reports of Voting Problems.

101.6101 - Short Title.

101.6102 - Mail Ballot Elections; Limitations.

101.6103 - Mail Ballot Election Procedure.

101.6104 - Challenge of Votes.

101.6105 - Vote-by-Mail Voting.

101.6106 - Application of Other Election Laws.

101.6107 - Department of State to Adopt Rules.

101.62 - Request for Vote-by-Mail Ballots.

101.64 - Delivery of Vote-by-Mail Ballots; Envelopes; Form.

101.65 - Instructions to Absent Electors.

101.655 - Supervised Voting by Absent Electors in Certain Facilities.

101.657 - Early Voting.

101.661 - Voting Vote-by-Mail Ballots.

101.662 - Accessibility of Vote-by-Mail Ballots.

101.663 - Electors; Change of Residence to Another State.

101.665 - Administration of Oaths; Military Personnel, Federal Employees, and Other Absentee Registrants.

101.67 - Safekeeping of Mailed Ballots; Deadline for Receiving Vote-by-Mail Ballots.

101.68 - Canvassing of Vote-by-Mail Ballot.

101.69 - Voting in Person; Return of Vote-by-Mail Ballot.

101.6921 - Delivery of Special Vote-by-Mail Ballot to Certain First-Time Voters.

101.6923 - Special Vote-by-Mail Ballot Instructions for Certain First-Time Voters.

101.6925 - Canvassing Special Vote-by-Mail Ballots.

101.694 - Mailing of Ballots Upon Receipt of Federal Postcard Application.

101.6951 - State Write-in Vote-by-Mail Ballot.

101.6952 - Vote-by-Mail Ballots for Absent Uniformed Services and Overseas Voters.

101.697 - Electronic Transmission of Election Materials.

101.698 - Absentee Voting in Emergency Situations.

101.71 - Polling Place.

101.715 - Accessibility of Polling Places for People Having a Disability.

101.731 - Short Title.

101.732 - Definitions Relating to Elections Emergency Act.

101.733 - Election Emergency; Purpose; Elections Emergency Contingency Plan.

101.74 - Temporary Change of Polling Place in Case of Emergency.

101.75 - Municipal Elections; Change of Dates for Cause.