Florida State University Election Law Center

Florida State creates election law center

Beginning July 1, 2025, the law creates a nonpartisan Election Law Center at Florida State University’s College of Law. It supports objective research, public resources, government advice, and training for students, judges, lawyers, lawmakers, and election officials. Its broad scope includes voting rights, election operations, security, emergencies, campaign finance, district maps, and election disputes. Its goals include safer voting, fewer election errors, better emergency planning, and greater public confidence. The center may offer courses, scholarships, research assistantships, and fellowships, including placements with nonpartisan groups. Funding can come from state appropriations, gifts, grants, and university funds; the law sets no dollar amount. The law school dean appoints a tenured faculty director, who hires an executive director to manage daily operations. The faculty director oversees programs, staffing, and spending in consultation with the executive director. The Department of State, election supervisors, State Library, and State Archives may share electronic data at the faculty director’s request. Sharing must support the center’s goals, and its staff must follow comparable confidentiality and security rules. Academic freedom protects the center’s work, and outside parties cannot force it or its full-time faculty or staff to assist projects. The center must also promote intellectual freedom and diverse viewpoints.