The Florida Senate’s Committee on Community Affairs approved a Committee Substitute for SB 600 amending the Florida Election Code today on a 5-3 party-line vote.  According to news reports, proposed amendments were also defeated by a similar vote. 

The current version of SB600 would:

• Require Supervisors of Elections to submit an “election preparation report” before each general election.
• Limit constitutional amendment ballot language proposed by the Legislature to 75 words in length.
• Alter the process for voting equipment purchases and dealing with “defects.”
• Provides for an additional automated audit of the votes cast in an election.
• Requiring that absentee ballots propvided on the day of an election only be given in cases of “emergency.”
• Brings back the former requirement of a witness signature on absentee ballots.
• Expands potential early voting sites.
• Expands the number of optional early voting days.
• Alters the canvassing process for absentee ballots.
• Allows for a cure process for unsigned submitted absentee ballots.
• Allows for alternative canvassing board members.
• Limits the term “immediate family,” for purposes of obtaining an absentee ballot, to spouse, parent, child, grandparent, sibling, or spouse’s sibling.