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Florida > The Florida Election Code > Registration Office, Officers, And Procedures

§ 98.461 Registration application, precinct register; contents.

Overview of Statute

This statute governs the registration application process. Registration applications must be retained by the supervisor of elections. The registration application can be microfilmed. Microfilm versions of registration applications are retained by the supervisor of elections. If the original application is microfilmed, the original can be destroyed. The statute then goes on to explain that a computer printout or electronic database is to be used at the polls as a precinct register. The statute also provides an overview of the contents of the precinct register.

Statute

(1) A registration application, approved by the Department of State, containing the information required in s. 97.052 shall be retained by the supervisor of elections of the county of the applicant’s registration. However, the registration application may be microfilmed and such microfilm substituted for the original registration application; or, when voter registration information, including the voter’s signature, is maintained digitally or on electronic, magnetic, or optic media, such stored information may be substituted for the original registration application. Such microfilms or stored information shall be retained in the custody of the supervisor of elections of the county of the applicant’s registration. In the event the original registration applications are microfilmed or maintained digitally or on electronic or other media, such originals may be destroyed in accordance with the schedule approved by the Bureau of Archives and Records Management of the Division of Library and Information Services of the Department of State.
(2) A computer printout or electronic database shall be used at the polls as a precinct register. The precinct register shall contain the date of the election, the precinct number, and the following information concerning each registered elector: last name, first name, middle name or initial, and suffix; party affiliation; residence address; registration number; date of birth; sex, if provided; race, if provided; whether the voter needs assistance in voting; and such other additional information as to readily identify the elector. The precinct register shall also contain a space for the elector’s signature and a space for the initials of the witnessing clerk or inspector or an electronic device may be provided for this purpose.

History:

s. 1, ch. 77-267; s. 1, ch. 86-200; s. 6, ch. 90-315; s. 36, ch. 94-224; s. 30, ch. 97-13; s. 9, ch. 98-129; s. 12, ch. 2003-415; s. 27, ch. 2005-278.

Definition [Elector]

“Elector” is synonymous with the word “voter” or “qualified elector or voter,” except where the word is used to describe presidential electors. Fla. Stat. § 97.021(15).

Definition [Election]

Any primary election, special primary election, special election, general election, or presidential preference primary election. Fla. Stat. § 97.021(12).

Regulations & Guidance

Additional Resources

Further Reading

  • Fla. Jur. 2d Elections s 57, Generally; uniform statewide voter registration application

  • Fla. Jur. 2d Elections s 62, Generally; precinct register

  • Fla. Jur. 2d Elections s 150, Identification required at polls

  • Florida Practice Series APP B, Appendix B. Chapter 92 of Florida Statutes Annotated Witnesses, Records, and Documents