§ 103.022 Write-in candidates for President and Vice President.
Overview of Statute
This statute governs the procedure for people who want to be write-in candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. Potential candidates must file an oath with the Department of State at some point after the 57th day, but before noon on the 49th day before the primary election in the presidential election year.
Statute
Persons seeking to qualify for election as write-in candidates for President and Vice President of the United States may have a blank space provided on the general election ballot for their names to be written in by filing an oath with the Department of State at any time after the 57th day, but before noon of the 49th day, prior to the date of the primary election in the year in which a presidential election is held. The Department of State shall prescribe the form to be used in administering the oath. The candidates shall file with the department a certificate naming the required number of persons to serve as electors. Such write-in candidates shall not be entitled to have their names on the ballot.
History:
s. 15, ch. 81-105; s. 9, ch. 83-251; s. 19, ch. 2005-286.
- Cross-References:
- Ballot Access
- Candidate Methods of Nomination
1. Definition for Department
The Department of State. Fla. Stat. § 97.021(7).
2. Definition for General Election
An election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the even-numbered years, for the purpose of filling national, state, county, and district offices and for voting on constitutional amendments not otherwise provided for by law. Fla. Stat. § 97.021(16).
3. Definition for Primary Election
An election held preceding the general election for the purpose of nominating a party nominee to be voted for in the general election to fill a national, state, county, or district office. Fla. Stat. § 97.021(29).
4. Definition for Ballot
As used in the Electronic Voting Systems Act, ballot means the card, tape, or other vehicle upon which the elector’s choices are recorded. Fla. Stat. § 101.5603(2).
5. Definition for Person
An individual or a corporation, association, firm, partnership, joint venture, joint stock company, club, organization, estate, trust, business trust, syndicate, or other combination of individuals having collective capacity. The term includes a political party, affiliated party committee, or political committee. Fla. Stat. § 106.011(14).
6. Definition for 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).
7. Definition for Election
Any primary election, special primary election, special election, general election, or presidential preference primary election. Fla. Stat. § 97.021(12).
8. Definition for Candidate
Any person to whom any one or more of the following applies:
Cases
Florida Cases
Case Name: Fulani v. Smith
Citation: 640 So.2d 1188
Year: 1994
Case URL: https://www.ravellaw.com/opinions/87f2711882291d3e076bb353b8de1db0
Case Summary: Fulani v. Smith held that the statutory deadline for filing oaths for presidential write-in candidates is constitutional because it does not impose an unreasonable burden on prospective candidates, the parties, or their supporters in violation of the 1st and 14th Amendments.