Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Mike Fasano Pasco County Tax Collector
Meet the Supervisor of Elections of Pasco County - Brian E. Corley 2
What we do... The Supervisor of Elections is ministerial in nature. We are not politically affiliated and we have no political influence or opinions. Our job is to: Register people to vote Maintain the voter registration rolls Plan, orchestrate, and manage elections Qualify candidates Provide Public Education 3
What do we hope to accomplish today?
To make voter registration a seamless operation between our agencies.
How will we accomplish this? Goal For Today
By reviewing what we already know By sharing information By creating an awareness of each other s roles By working toward a common goal.
What is the game plan?
Training Agenda Understanding The National Voter Registration Act Understanding Voting Understanding Voter Registration Understanding New Legislation Myth vs Fact Open Discussion on Recurring Issues
Why is this training necessary... Because the DMV plays a HUGE role in registering people to vote!
Total Number of Applications Received by DHSMV: 2008: 352,150-38 % 2009: 295,476-88.6% 2010: 271,167-57.4% 2011: 333,354-68.2% 2012: 382,556-39%
Total Number Pasco County DMV 2012: 10,561 2013: 14,141
Knowledge is Power But... Applied Knowledge is Powerful
Understanding The National Voter Registration Act (Motor Voter) 14
What Do You Know About The National Voter Registration Act? 15
Motor Voter 101 Enacted 1993 Effective 1995 To enhance voting opportunities for every American and to remove the vestiges of discrimination which have historically resulted in lower voter registration rates of minorities and persons with disabilities. 16
Motor Voter 101 Is in addition to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and does not allow activities that violate that act. Exempted states that had no voter registration or permitted same day registration at the polling place. Allowed a later effective date for states that needed to amend their constitution in order to comply. Has been contested through lawsuits by many states for it s constitutionality. 17
Motor Voter 101 Requires states to register voters in 3 specified ways in addition to other procedures already in place: Simultaneous application for driver license and voter registration. Mail application for voter registration In person at designated government agencies 18
Motor Voter 101 FS 97.057 19
Motor Voter 101 Florida s Interpretation of the Motor Voter Requirements: FS 97.057 (1) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall provide the opportunity to register to vote or to update a voter registration record to each individual who comes to an office of that department to.... 20
Motor Voter 101 Apply for or renew a driver license Apply for or renew an identification card Change an address on an existing driver license or identification card 21
Motor Voter 101 FS 97.057 (2)(a) Notify each individual orally or in writing, that... 22
Motor Voter 101 1. 2. 3. Info gathered can be automatically transferred to a voter registration application. If additional info and signature are provided, it will complete a voter registration application which will be sent to the election authority. Info provided can also be used to update a voter registration record. 23
Motor Voter 101 4. 5. Declinations will remain confidential Location of application will remain confidential 24
Motor Voter 101 If the applicant chooses to register to vote or to update a voter registration record: A voter registration application with all the applicant s voter registration information MUST be presented to the applicant to review and verify the voter registration information received and provide an electronic signature affirming the accuracy of the information provided. (FS 97.057) 25
Motor Voter 101 In summary, other things FS 97.957 covers: 1. 2. 3. 4. Declinations must be noted and forwarded to the statewide voter registration system. Describes requirements of the physical form. Prescribes time limits on transferring info Describes what driver license personnel may NOT do when providing voter registration services, e.g. seek to influence, discourage, or disclose info. 26
Motor Voter 101 In summary, other things FS 97.957 covers: 1. 2. 3. 4. Outlines data collection requirements and records retention requirements. Talks about electronic street address database comparison. An agreement between Dept. of State and DHSMV to verify DL or FL ID#s An agreement between DHSMV and Commissioner of Social Security to verify last four digits of SS #s. 27
Understanding Voting 28
What Do You Know About Voting? 29
Elections 101 Florida is a Closed Primary State Which Means Voters Must Vote Their Party of Registration in Primary Elections Primary Elections are (sometimes) run-off races between 2 or more candidates of the same party. The winning candidate will go on to the general election and will compete against the primary election winner of the opposing party, or a nonpartisan candidate or write-in. In this way each party decides the final candidate for office in the general election. 30
Voters Must Vote Their Party in Primary Elections Party Changes MAY NOT Be Made at the Polls 31
Please be careful to select the correct party of choice. This determines voter s ballot. 32
Three Ways to Vote Early Voting Vote-by-mail At the Polls on Election Day Per FL Statutes, you must present a photo and a signature identification when voting. A FL driver license or FL ID is the perfect form, but there are other acceptable forms... 33
Acceptable Forms of ID at the Polls US Passport Debit or credit card Military ID Student ID Retirement Center ID Neighborhood association ID Public assistance ID (A list of these is on our website) An out-of-state license is NOT acceptable 34
If A Voter is Unable to Produce an Acceptable Form of ID at the Polls. They will be asked to vote a Provisional Ballot 35
Understanding Provisional Ballots Florida Statute A voter claiming to be properly registered in the state and eligible to vote at the precinct in the election but whose eligibility cannot be determined A person whom an election official asserts is not eligible Other persons specified in the code shall be entitled to vote a provisional ballot 36
How Do I Early Vote? At early voting sites throughout the county: 2 SOE Offices 5 County Libraries The Groves in Wesley Chapel Present your photo/signature ID Vote on a paper ballot and feed your ballot through the optical scan voting machine. 37
How Do I Vote By Mail? Order one for yourself by: Mail (in writing) Phone E-mail Or in person at the SOE office Vote the ballot and mail it back to the SOE office Hand deliver the ballot to an SOE office by 7:00 p.m. Election Day. 38
How Do I Vote at the Polls on Election Day? Go to your assigned polling place between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Be sure to take your photo/signature ID Take your sample ballot Sign in at the EViD Receive your ballot Proceed to the privacy booth Feed your ballot through the optical scanner Have a nice day! 39
Understanding Voter Registration 40
What Do You Know About Voter Registration? 41
What Do I Need to Know About Voter Registration? Once you re registered in the State of Florida, there is no need to re-apply unless you have left the state and returned, or your record has been purged due to inactivity. Your registration remains active simply by voting and updating your address if you have moved. Most voters register through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) when they get their driver license. In addition to DHSMV and the elections office, there are other agencies which are official voter registration agencies, i.e.: Libraries Public Assistance Offices Armed Forces Disabilities Offices Qualifying Educational Institutions 42
What Are the Qualifications to Register to Vote? At least 18 years of age ** A citizen of the United States A legal resident of the State of Florida A legal resident of the county in which you seek to be registered. **see next page 43
Voters may pre-register to vote at age 16, or upon receipt of a valid Florida driver license, whichever occurs earlier. However, they are not eligible to vote until they are 18 years old. If you turn 18 on election day, as long as you are pre-registered, you can vote. 44
Where Do I Get an Application? On-line @ www.pascovotes.com One of our 3 offices: Dade City Land O Lakes New Port Richey At the library The driver license office. The post office And.. 45
At each location where hunting, fishing, or trapping permits or licenses are sold. Shooter Voter Bill - HB 125 The Supervisor of Elections shall supply the Fish and Wildlife Commission and its subagents with voter registration applications which shall be displayed and made available to the public. Subagents shall ask each person who applies for a license or permit if he or she would like a voter registration application. 46
How Do I Fill This Thing Out? A valid voter registration application must: Have a mark in the check box to questions regarding citizenship, felony conviction and mental incapacitation. Complete name Date of birth Valid, legal residence address Your Florida Driver License #, Florida ID#, or if applicant has not been issued a DL or ID card, the last four digits of social security #. Signature 47
Things To Remember for Voter Registration Mailing Address- Be familiar with Commercial & Mail Forwarding addresses- when these are used, they must also provide a VALID residential address Resident Address- Where Voter Lives (no PO Boxes) This determines Voter s Precinct & Districts. Email- If Email address is provided, please advise it DOES become public record 48
Incomplete Applications Applications that are missing required information are flagged as incomplete by the data entry staff. Applicants are sent a new application with a letter explaining what was incomplete. 49
What Does Book Closing Mean? Voter registration closes 29 days prior to the election. If you have never registered to vote in Florida, you must have a completed application on file before book closing date. Why do the books close? There has to be a cut-off date in order to complete data entry and prepare the precinct registers (lists of qualified voters). 50
What Else Does Book Closing Apply To? Party Changes! You cannot change your party at the polls. If you want to change parties for an upcoming primary, your application must be received by the SOE office by book closing date. 51
How Do I Get A Replacement Information Card? By completing a voter registration application. Notice: Voter registration cards are now called Information Cards. They no longer can be used for identification purposes at the polls. Every voter must show a photo and signature ID before voting. 52
I Can t Find My Voter s Card. Will I Still Be Able to Vote? Yes! Information cards are simply acknowledgement of your registration and contain useful information such as your polling place location and congressional districts. At the polls, you will be asked to show a photo and signature ID, such as your driver license or Florida Identification Card.or, two separate forms of ID, one which shows your photo and one which has your signature on it. 53
How Do I Update My Signature? By completing a voter registration application. Why is An Updated Signature Important? Your signature may have changed due to a medical condition or the aging process. The signature we have on file for you is the one that we use when comparing your signature on your vote-by-mail ballot or a petition you sign. 54
Some Common Myths About Voter Registration: - Just because you were registered in FL at some point in time does not mean your FL registration is still valid. - Being registered in another state does not automatically make you registered in FL or any other state. - Being issued a driver license does not automatically make you registered to vote. 55
More Common Myths About Voter Registration: - You MAY NOT register to vote using your business address. - If voting on election day, you MUST vote in the precinct in which you reside or you will be committing a felony. - You have to have an excuse or reason to request a vote-by-mail ballot. 56
More Discussion on Myth vs Fact 57
MYTH: Voters will be turned away if they are wearing campaign apparel. FACT: Voters may wear campaign buttons, shirts, hats, or any other campaign items when they enter the polling place to vote; voters may not otherwise campaign there. (From the Polling Place Procedures Manual incorporated within Rule 1S- 2.034, Florida Administrative Code) So, merely going to the polls wearing campaign paraphernalia is OK, but, by statute (s. 102.031(4), Florida Statutes), one cannot solicit voters within 100 foot of the entrance to any polling place. 58
MYTH: The address on your driver license must match the address in the voter registration record in order to be able to vote. FACT: The address on the driver license does not need to match the address in the voter registration record. If you have moved and haven t changed your driver license to reflect your new address, that s okay. What is important is that you vote in the precinct where you currently live, no matter what your driver license says. 59
MYTH: If your house is under foreclosure, you will not be able to vote. FACT: A foreclosure notice does not necessarily mean that a person no longer resides in the home, as people often remain in the home after foreclosure begins and are sometimes able to refinance the home. Voters whose homes have been foreclosed but who remain in their homes may continue to vote in their assigned precinct. Voters who have physically moved from their foreclosed residence with no intention of returning to that address as their residence may still vote, but should provide a change of address. 60
MYTH: If you are a Florida college student, you have to change your permanent residence to your college address. FACT: If a college student registers with a legal residence in a Florida county, then no further proof of residency is required, regardless of where the college student s parents reside or whether the student intends to move back to where the parents are located. 61
MYTH: Provisional ballots are only counted when there is a close race. FACT: A provisional ballot is always counted when the voter is shown to be registered and eligible, regardless of the closeness of the outcome of the election. A person who votes provisionally simply because they forgot ID at the polls will not have to do anything else. If the signatures on that ballot certificate and the voter roll matches, the provisional ballot is counted. 62
MYTH: Absentee ballots are only counted when there is a close race. FACT: All absentee ballots are counted if properly executed, which includes making sure that the return envelope is signed and that the signature matches the voter s signature on record. 63
MYTH: If a voter owes child support or has pending warrants against him or her, the police will arrest the voter at the polls. FACT: The voter registration rolls at the polls have no indicators whether a voter owes child support or has outstanding warrants against him or her. Furthermore, law enforcement personnel are not allowed in the polling place without the permission of the election board, so ordinarily there will not be any law enforcement personnel in the polling place to identify a voter who may have outstanding child support payments due or warrants against him or her. 64
MYTH: If the voter is homeless and has no legal residence, the voter may not vote. FACT: State registration laws may not discriminate against the homeless in voter registration as long as the homeless applicant for voter registration intends to remain in a locale and has either a place where he can receive messages or an effective mailing address. The homeless person will vote in the precinct where the applicant receives messages (e.g., rescue mission) or the precinct in which the applicant s effective mailing address is located. 65
Understanding New Legislation 66
An act relating to paper reduction; amending s. 97.052, F.S.; provided that the uniform statewide voter registration application be designed to elicit the e-mail address of an applicant and whether the applicant desires to receive sample ballots by e-mail. 67
That Section is also amended to make an email address provided by a voter registration applicant or voter confidential and exempt, but was vetoed by Governor Scott. 68
Thank you for registering to vote or updating your voter registration information today! Your application has been forwarded to the Supervisor of Elections office for processing. A voter information card confirming your voter registration or update will be mailed to you within 30 days. If you do NOT receive this acknowledgement, you should contact the Supervisor of Elections at 1-800-851-8754 or visit pascovotes.com. Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano & Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley Working Together to Serve You Better! 69
Armed with background information and an understanding of the importance of entering information correctly and why, there should be no reason our goal can t be met! 70