Governor Crist Signs Paper Trail Legislation for Florida Votes

Governor Charlie Crist today signed House Bill 537 that will establish a paper trail for all votes cast in Florida elections. The election-reform legislation will provide optical scan machines for counties that do not already have them for Election Day voting and early voting sites. The legislation also changes the date of Florida's presidential primary to the last Tuesday in January.

"There is no greater testament to our nation's democracy than the people's ability to choose their leaders," Crist said. "When Floridians cast ballots in an election at any level -- local, state or federal -- they can leave the polling place knowing that their vote has been counted and recorded and can be verified."

"Every two years millions of Americans express their opinion without fear of consequence," Crist said. "People around the world yearn for this freedom, and now Floridians will enjoy this freedom with confidence that their vote is counted."

Touch-screen machines will still be used to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

The bill will provide changes to Florida's elections law, including the following:

• Changes Florida's Presidential Primary to the last Tuesday in January, increasing the state's visibility in the primary process. It also provides local governments the option to change local elections to the same date.

• Requires all votes cast in the state on Election Day to be cast using optical scan equipment that provide a paper trail. Votes cast by persons with disabilities are exempt from this requirement.

• Appropriates $27.8 million to the Department of State to purchase optical scan equipment to replace touch screen technology for Election Day voting. It also provides ballot-on-demand technology during early voting.

• Allows candidates seeking federal office to retain their existing public office at the time of qualifying for the federal office.

• Clarifies that complaints filed with the Florida Elections Commission must be based on "personal information other than hearsay." And provides that complaints relating to expense items will not be investigated if reimbursement occurred before the filing of the sworn complaint.

"Today is an example of how government is supposed to function. Without partisanship and without political advantage," said U.S. Representative Robert Wexler. "Governor Crist and the State Legislature have come together and delivered an election system that is a model for the nation. One person, one vote -- guaranteed -- with a paper record to prove it."