Bill > S1416

Introduced Session

An act relating to elections during emergencies; creating s. 101.7311, F.S.; requiring that elections, in the event of an emergency, be conducted in accordance with specified provisions and carried out in a certain manner; amending s. 101.732, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “emergency”; creating s. 101.7325, F.S.; authorizing supervisors of elections to request approval from the Secretary of State to take specified actions under specified conditions; specifying requirements for such request; requiring that supervisors submit all such requests at once, to the extent practicable; authorizing the submission of revised or additional requests under specified circumstances; requiring the secretary to approve or deny requests within a specified timeframe; requiring the secretary to consider specified factors; providing that requests are deemed approved under specified conditions; requiring the secretary to publish approvals and denials on the Department of State’s website; requiring the department to maintain an official record of all requests, approvals, and denials for public inspection; requiring that such records be compiled in a certain format; requiring that such records be used for specified purposes; authorizing supervisors to take specified actions under specified circumstances; specifying requirements for such actions; amending s. 101.733, F.S.; requiring that notice of a rescheduled election be posted on any social media account controlled by the supervisor or the supervisor’s office, on the affected county’s social media accounts, and a certain newspaper; requiring that contingency planning and procedures for elections be implemented in accordance with specified provisions; deleting provisions requiring the Division of Elections to adopt rules for an elections emergency contingency plan; creating s. 101.735, F.S.; requiring the division to adopt by rule a statewide election emergency contingency plan; requiring the plan to include specified procedures; requiring supervisors, in consultation with local emergency management officials, to develop a local election emergency contingency plan and submit such plan to the division for approval by a specified date; requiring the division to determine the sufficiency of such plan by a specified date; requiring a supervisor to submit a revised plan within a specified timeframe, under a specified condition; providing criteria for determining sufficiency; requiring that such plans be implemented in conjunction with specified provisions to ensure coordination of emergency powers and availability of equipment; creating s. 101.736, F.S.; defining the term “tabletop exercise”; requiring the secretary, in coordination with the supervisors, to develop an election emergency training program; providing that the training program is required for newly elected or appointed supervisors and critical staff, as determined by the supervisor; requiring the secretary to update such training periodically; requiring the secretary to convene a workgroup by a specified date to create a certain list; specifying requirements for the workgroup; requiring the secretary to use the list for specified actions; creating s. 101.738, F.S.; requiring the division to maintain a secure strategic election equipment reserve for specified purposes; specifying requirements for such reserve; authorizing the division, in lieu of a reserve, to contract with certified vendors to provide such equipment; specifying requirements for such contract; requiring the division to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; specifying requirements for the report; amending s. 101.74, F.S.; revising the criteria that a supervisor of elections uses to establish an additional polling place under specified circumstances; authorizing qualified electors of the affected precinct to vote in the new location; requiring the supervisor to provide notice of the temporary polling place through specified means; authorizing supervisors to coordinate with emergency management officials; providing construction; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

Tina Polsky (D)*,  Mack Bernard (D), 

Introduced (on 01/22/2026)

Official Document