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Appointment of Members to 2024 Canvassing Board
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BRIEF OVERVIEW
Supervisor of Elections Shirley Anderson is requesting appointments from the Board of County Commissioners to the Canvassing Board for the 2024 election cycle. The law was changed this Legislative Session to require the appointment of the member representative and two alternates (formerly just one) for the Board of County Commissioners. Additionally, any alternate may now serve in any seat of the Canvassing Board.
Also, Supervisor of Elections Shirley Anderson is running for reelection this cycle; therefore, while she shall act in an advisory capacity to the Canvassing Board, the Chairman must appoint a substitute from the Board of County Commissioners.
The 2024 election cycle includes three elections:
Presidential Preference Primary: March 19, 2024
Primary Election: August 20, 2024
General Election: November 5, 2024
FINANCIAL IMPACT
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LEGAL NOTE
The Board is authorized to act on this matter pursuant to § 102.141, Florida Statutes.
102.141County canvassing board; duties.-
(1)The county canvassing board shall be composed of the supervisor of elections; a county court judge, who shall act as chair; and the chair of the board of county commissioners. The names of the canvassing board members must be published on the supervisor’s website upon completion of the logic and accuracy test. At least two alternate canvassing board members must be appointed pursuant to paragraph (e). In the event any member of the county canvassing board is unable to serve, is a candidate who has opposition in the election being canvassed, or is an active participant in the campaign or candidacy of any candidate who has opposition in the election being canvassed, such member shall be replaced as follows:
(a)If a county court judge is unable to serve or if all are disqualified, the chief judge of the judicial circuit in which the county is located must appoint as a substitute member a qualified elector of the county who is not a candidate with opposition in the election being canvassed and who is not an active participant in the campaign or candidacy of any candidate with opposition in the election being canvassed. In such event, the members of the county canvassing board shall meet and elect a chair.
(b)If the supervisor of elections is unable to serve or is disqualified, the chair of the board of county commissioners must appoint as a substitute member a member of the board of county commissioners who is not a candidate with opposition in the election being canvassed and who is not an active participant in the campaign or candidacy of any candidate with opposition in the election being canvassed. The supervisor, however, shall act in an advisory capacity to the canvassing board.
(c)If the chair of the board of county commissioners is unable to serve or is disqualified, the board of county commissioners must appoint as a substitute member one of its members who is not a candidate with opposition in the election being canvassed and who is not an active participant in the campaign or candidacy of any candidate with opposition in the election being canvassed.
(d)If a substitute member or alternate member cannot be appointed as provided elsewhere in this subsection, or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the chief judge of the judicial circuit in which the county is located must appoint as a substitute member or alternate member a qualified elector of the county who is not a candidate with opposition in the election being canvassed and who is not an active participant in the campaign or candidacy of any candidate with opposition in the election being canvassed.
(e)1.The chief judge of the judicial circuit in which the county is located shall appoint a county court judge as an alternate member of the county canvassing board or, if each county court judge is unable to serve or is disqualified, shall appoint an alternate member who is qualified to serve as a substitute member under paragraph (a). Any alternate may serve in any seat.
(e)2.The chair of the board of county commissioners shall appoint a member of the board of county commissioners as an alternate member of the county canvassing board or, if each member of the board of county commissioners is unable to serve or is disqualified, shall appoint an alternate member who is qualified to serve as a substitute member under paragraph (d).
(e)3.If a member of the county canvassing board is unable to participate in a meeting of the board, the chair of the county canvassing board or his or her designee must designate which alternate member will serve as a member of the board in the place of the member who is unable to participate at that meeting.
(e)4.If not serving as one of the three members of the county canvassing board, an alternate member may be present, observe, and communicate with the three members constituting the county canvassing board, but may not vote in the board’s decisions or determinations.
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board appoint one member representative and two alternates for the Board member position on the 2024 Canvassing Board. Additionally, the Chairman must appoint a County Commissioner to serve as a substitute for the Supervisor of Elections Canvassing Board position.