© 2024 | WUWF Public Media
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL 32514
850 474-2787
NPR for Florida's Great Northwest
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Despite Reservations, Scott Signs Online Voter Registration Bill

Florida will move ahead with online voter registration despite Gov. Rick Scott’s worries.

Citing “some hesitation,” Scott signed Senate Bill 228 on Friday, which mandates an online voter registration system be up and running by October 1, 2017. Sec. of State Ken Detzner -- Florida’s top elected official -- opposed the measure. He pleaded with lawmakers not to pass it but in the end, he stood aside.

“Governors make their own decisions, based on whatever criteria they have,” said Detzner. “If he asks me what my opinion is I’ll share that with him, but I’ve not spoken with him.”

The measure received overwhelming bipartisan support – passing the House 109-9, and 373-3 in the Senate. The 12 opposed are all Republicans. Florida's county election supervisors – who are responsible for voter registration -- made this issue their top legislative priority in 2015.

Escambia County Supervisor David Stafford adds that he and his counterparts first wanted to make sure of the timing in backing online registration. The 2015 session, he says, was their opening. They worked with lawmakers and outside groups on the policy.

“The thing that’s great is we had the advantage of 20-plus states having enacted this already,” Stafford said. “We had the opportunity to learn both positively and negatively from what they’ve done.”

While signing the bill, the Governor said he’s concerned about whether the system could be installed during replacement of the existing statewide voter database. Another concern from Scott is potential cyber-attacks. But Stafford says the two and a half years granted to have the system operational is more than enough time to work out those issues among others.

Under SB-228, Detzner is required to report to the Legislature by January 1, 2016 on progress being made toward implementation. Stafford reminds potential voters that this is an online “application” system. There is no automatic registration by computer or other device.

“We as supervisors of elections will continue to review every single application, and make sure that that person meets the eligibility requirements,” said Stafford. “And in doing so, that person will have already have to have been in the Florida Highway Safety Motor Vehicles database. They will already either have to have a Florida driver’s license or a Florida ID card.”

What remains up in the air is whether Florida can join “ERIC” -- The Electronic Registration Information Center that helps states improve voter roll accuracy and access to registration. Formed by the non-partisan Pew Charitable Trusts in 2012, eleven states and the District of Columbia are members, with more expected to join.

In a written statement, Sec. of State Ken Detzner said he “respects the decision of the governor and the Legislature on this bill.” He also pledged that his department will commit “110%” effort to ensure the system is implemented correctly with safeguards against security risks.