Voter's Rights and Responsibilities

Comment Up

As we have the general election coming up in just a few weeks, this is a reminder of the few glitches we had in the primary on the mini-Ipad equipment. This year, the county spent $1.3 million to buy and program 2,700 mini-iPads for use at its approximately 450 polling places. The Supervisor of Elections and the vendor had the problem totally fixed by 11am. Problems mostly incurred in voting precincts that handled more than one precinct.


FLORIDA STATUTES

VOTER’S BILL OF RIGHTS

Each registered voter in this state has the right to:

1. Vote and have his or her vote accurately counted.
2. Cast a vote if he or she is in line at the official closing of the polls in that county.
3. Ask for and receive assistance in voting.
4. Receive up to two replacement ballots if he or she makes a mistake prior to the ballot being cast.
5. An explanation if his or her registration or identity is in question.
6. If his or her registration or identity is in question, cast a provisional ballot.
7. Written instructions to use when voting and upon request oral instructions in voting from elections officers.
8. Vote free from coercion or intimidation by elections officers or any other person
9. Vote on a voting system that is in working condition and that will allow votes to be accurately cast.

VOTER RESPONSIBILITIES

 Each registered voter in this state should:
1. Familiarize himself or herself with the candidates and issues
2. Maintain with the office of the supervisor of elections a current address.
3. Know the location of his or her polling place and its hours of operation.
4. Bring proper identification to the polling station.
5. Familiarize himself or herself with the operation of the voting equipment in his or her precinct
6. Treat precinct workers with courtesy.
7. Respect the privacy of other voters.
8. Report any problems or violations of election laws to the supervisor of elections.
9. Ask questions, if needed
10.  Make sure that his or her completed ballot is correct before leaving the polling station.

 NOTE TO VOTER: Failure to perform any of these responsibilities does not prohibit a voter from voting. (3) Nothing in this section shall give rise to a legal cause of action. (4) In case any elector, after entering the voting booth, shall ask for further instructions concerning the manner of voting, two election officers who are not both members of the same political party, if present, or, if not, two election officers who are members of the same political party, shall give such instructions to such elector, but no officer or person assisting an elector shall in any manner request, suggest, or seek to persuade or induce any elector to vote for or against any particular ticket, candidate, amendment, question, or proposition. After giving the elector instructions and before the elector has voted, the officers or persons assisting the elector shall retire, and such elector shall vote in secret. History.—s. 40, ch. 4328, 1895; s. 12, ch. 4537, 1897; GS 225; RGS 270; CGL 326; s. 1, ch. 25106, 1949; s. 5, ch. 26870, 1951; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 25, ch. 77-104; s. 13, ch. 77-175; s. 31, ch. 79-400; s. 60, ch. 2001-40; s. 5, ch. 2002-17; s. 22, ch. 2005-277. Note.—Former s. 99.24.