Just like everything in summer, Election Season is heating up. While 2020 is technically months away, it sure doesn’t feel like it in our office. After the 2018 General Election, Florida lawmakers created an election reform package that affects a variety of statewide election procedures. On June 28 ^th, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 7066 into law.

The new law moved the Primary Election from 10 weeks before the General Election to 11 weeks, to give overseas voters time to receive and send back Vote by Mail ballots. The new date for the 2020 Primary is August 18, 2020.

It also requires a request for a Vote by Mail ballot must be received by 5 PM by the Elections Office 10 days before the election, and moves the deadline for the Elections Office to send out Vote by Mail ballots, from four to eight days before the election. This gives voters more time to fill out their ballots and return them, and the USPS more time to deliver them.

7066 touches on other items like ballot transport, expands no-solicitation zones at polling locations and Early Vote sites. It also amends the Florida Voter Registration Application to accommodate Amendment 4, although prior voter registration applications are still acceptable.

These changes come right after Governor DeSantis’ order in April to provide ballots, election assistance and voting materials in Spanish. As we incorporate these changes, we’re revising our training to reflect the new requirements, recruiting new Election Workers and holding labs for current Election Workers, updating and testing equipment, negotiating contracts for precinct locations, attending training classes and round table discussions, and verifying thousands of petitions.

It doesn’t make for a relaxing summer, but it’s all part of how we #PROTECT2020- and continue our tradition of holding fair, transparent, and secure elections.