FloridaHB 9912026HouseWALLET

Elections

Sponsored By: Jenna Persons-Mulicka (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AppropriationGovernment Operations SubcommitteeState Affairs CommitteeHouse CalendarRules

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

16 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 3 costs, 9 mixed.

Broad petition racketeering category is removed

Beginning January 1, 2027, Florida removes the broad racketeering category for Election Code violations involving issue-petition fraud or irregularities. That category no longer provides a basis for a Florida racketeering charge.

Voters keep paper and accessible ballots

Beginning January 1, 2027, official ballots are paper marked with a compatible or recommended pen, or accessible-device paper output. Voters can request an accessible device that produces a paper ballot they can check. Voting systems must accept an initially rejected ballot if the voter chooses; overvotes and undervotes record no vote for that office. Ballot paper must prevent printing from showing through the back and meet voting-system specifications. Officials can print ballots on demand, including provisional, mail, early-voting, and election-day ballots. Equipment tests using marksense ballots must use actual election ballots and also test on-demand ballots on the same stock when used.

Campaigns cannot seek foreign national contributions

Beginning July 1, 2026, candidates, political parties, political committees, and electioneering communications groups face a foreign-contribution ban. They cannot knowingly and willfully seek or accept foreign national contributions, directly or indirectly, for a Florida election.

Specified petition crimes support racketeering cases

Beginning July 1, 2026, crimes chargeable under four specified issue-petition laws count as racketeering activity. These crimes can support a Florida racketeering case; the change does not automatically make every petition violation racketeering.

Flagged applicants get provisional ballot deadlines

Beginning January 1, 2027, officials must notify timely applicants whose identification number or citizenship evidence needs review. This applies to applications received by the voter-registration deadline. Applicants still missing required evidence when they arrive to vote must receive a provisional ballot. It can count if the identification number is verified by the end of canvassing. Alternatively, citizenship or identification-number evidence must arrive by 5 p.m. on the second day after the election.

Mail ballot and correction IDs change

Beginning January 1, 2027, ballot-correction and certain first-time mail-voter instructions add passport cards and uniformed services or Merchant Marine IDs. They remove debit and credit cards and several non-government IDs; educational-institution IDs are excluded. For ballot corrections, Tier 1 uses accepted current, valid photo identification showing your name. Tier 2 documents, such as utility bills or bank statements showing your name and current address, are allowed only without Tier 1 ID. Submit the correction affidavit and ID copy by 5 p.m. on the second day after the election. First-time mail-voter exemptions remain for people 65 or older, people with physical disabilities, and listed absent or overseas voters.

Polling place voters get revised ID options

Beginning January 1, 2027, accepted polling-place IDs include passports, passport cards, and uniformed services or Merchant Marine IDs. Accepted government IDs can come from federal, state, county, or municipal bodies, but not educational institutions. Debit, credit, student, retirement-center, neighborhood-association, and public-assistance cards are removed from the accepted list. Your ID must be current, valid, and show a photo. If it lacks your signature, you must bring additional identification with your signature.

Voter eligibility reviews require notice

Beginning January 1, 2027, Florida must assess government citizenship information for credibility and reliability before referring registered voters for review. County supervisors receive supporting documents and must follow notice and eligibility procedures before removing a voter. Notices must list accepted citizenship documents, and Florida records the document type provided. For new applicants previously removed for ineligibility, supervisors must check current eligibility within 13 days of receiving their records. Applicants who remain ineligible must be denied and notified.

Voters face added citizenship proof checks

Beginning January 1, 2027, Florida accepts listed birth certificates, passports, naturalization certificates, consular birth records, and federal-court documents as citizenship proof. Accepted government photo IDs must be current, valid, and show U.S. citizenship. A different name on the proof requires official name-change records. County election supervisors must check state and federal sources when applicants lack listed identification numbers or records flag citizenship concerns. Supervisors must start the required notice process when applicable, and Florida records verified citizenship and the document type.

Agencies share more voter record data

Beginning January 1, 2027, agencies match voter records with motor vehicle records to check identification numbers and citizenship. Florida records the citizenship document type and receives weekly information about people who presented citizenship proof for a license or ID. Agencies also update matched voters' addresses and card numbers, even when they declined voter-registration services. The Department of State must report new card-number information to county supervisors within 7 days. Jury records flag possible citizenship, felony, death, or residency issues; a flag alone does not establish ineligibility or remove a voter.

Candidates face stricter ballot access rules

Party candidates must be registered with that party for 365 consecutive days before qualifying begins. Candidates without party affiliation must have that status, without party membership, for the same period. Candidates must attest that they had no prohibited court-petition name change during the preceding 365 days; marriage, divorce, and adoption exceptions apply. Candidates must also swear when filing candidacy that they meet, or will timely meet, the office's legal qualifications. Candidates and eligible party groups can seek court review; party-history challenges require a qualified same-race candidate or party. A final court finding of noncompliance bars qualification and ballot placement. If ballots are printed, officials must include notices with mail ballots and post notices at voting sites that votes will not count.

Citizenship on IDs and free updates

By July 1, 2027, Florida licenses and ID cards must show citizenship for qualified applicants recorded as U.S. citizens. This applies when cards are issued, renewed, or replaced. People who become U.S. citizens get a free renewal or replacement when they timely update their legal status.

Election felony cases have five-year deadline

Beginning July 1, 2026, prosecutors must start Florida Election Code felony cases within 5 years after the violation. The deadline applies to felony violations under that code.

Candidates disclose citizenship and stock plans

Federal, state, county, district, judicial, and school board candidates must disclose other citizenship and name each other country. Judicial and school board candidates must file the sworn statement by the end of qualifying. Federal candidates must disclose plans to trade stocks outside a trust or similar arrangement that strictly limits their control. They must also disclose prior federal service and whether they traded stocks while serving. These are filing duties, not bans on dual citizenship or stock trading.

Online voter applications retain paper options

Beginning January 1, 2027, matching your name and birth date to motor vehicle records allows electronic application delivery. Your signature on file satisfies the application signature requirement. The system sends the application even when citizenship is unverified, but alerts the county election supervisor. A printable form is available if matching fails, you lack a Florida license or ID, or you choose paper. That form omits license, ID, and Social Security numbers; you must print, sign, date, and deliver it.

Voter update dates and office access

Beginning January 1, 2027, valid name, address, and party updates use the application's initial receipt date once required evidence is verified. A party change received while registration is closed for a primary takes effect for the following general election. County election offices must open Monday through Friday for at least 8 hours daily, starting no later than 9 a.m. Approved holiday closures are allowed only when election duties do not require the office to open.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Jenna Persons-Mulicka
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Government Operations Subcommittee
Affiliation unavailable
State Affairs Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Dana Trabulsy
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 199 • No: 95

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 27 • No: 12

House vote • 3/12/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 77 • No: 28

Senate vote • 3/11/2026