HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-23-2004 Opt-out provision for municipal employeesFAX NO. :4075718123 M-ar. 31 2005 08:54AM P1
CITY OF ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
City Clerk Department
225 Newburyport Avenue
Altamonte Springy, FT, 32701
RE IE1VEE1
FAX TRANSMISSION MAR 3 12005
(407) 571-8120 CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS'
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
Receiver: Andrea Lorenzo-Luaces
Name of Person
Department/Division
Sender: 1'atsy wainri t
Name of Person
City Clerk
Department
407 571-8122
Phone Number
Number of Pages (Including this Page):_
Comments:
Amdrea:
Attached are the two informal opinions from the Assistant General Counscl — Department of
State
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STATR OF >pI.ONVA
DEi'aiW MIENr OF 5T'AM
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c3owntor
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IA PACSIMI'L
Anthony A• Garpneae, Esq.
erowlt, Carpnere, Weise & D'Agresm, P.A.
225 Rapt Robbum Street, Suite 6m
Orlando, Florda 32801-2873
Re: lnFomal Opirvon: Opt -Out Provwion for Mtmicipal Electiom
Dear `blt. Gartrar,em
TNs 'w in response to your regtmt on behalf of fottr n+uni Felines Cape Canaval;at, Cocoa,
Or+ehid end WInter'IlWnp, ;for an intormei opUdon yelatfng to runidyai elections, You ask
whtcher & city WAY, pumu,ant to MKton 100,J6W, Florid# $tatuhrs, opt out of dw early voting
proeeft enacted recendy under sections 9. 10, 11. 12 And 13 of cltaprei law 2004-232,1.sws of
Flodde.
9tnce 1995, the ylaride L'lecdons Code (Chaptsis 99 through 106, Flodde Statutes) governs al!
aspects of murtkipsil elections in the abmice of an appubbit spedal ect, charter or onUnmue.
See section l00.31103, Florida StatuMaj Chapt" 95_110, Lows of Rlorlda, see also DE 03-01.
Wwavw. even where a municipality chooses to "opt out" of rho electoons code by vtrtin of a
epedal act, chatter, at ordinance, it will continue to be bound by dMa provfalmj of the code hat
expr*ssty apply to murnirtipaUtiee.
At this HMO, the 1110Woty provWon on early v"Rg dtaee not expressly apply to municipalities.
icipalities.
Therefore, a n LWjC1Paiity May opt out of fHj pravhWon thmugh the application of a specW act or
adoption of a charter or ordirnance. If the MMUC(praltty chooses to provide early vo", it must
comply with the statutory rt'qull watnh for early voting under section 101,07, Florida StAtutes-
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Assistant G"Cra l Counsel
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f FRQMti: FAX NO. :4075718123 Mar. 31 2005 08:55AM P3
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OFSTATE
Glenda E. Hood
Secretary of Stbte
DIVISION OF FLEC1'IONS
22 March 2005
Via Facsimile and U.S, Mail
Patsy Wainright, CMC, City Clerk
City of Altamonte Springs
225 Newburyport Avenue
Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701-3697
Pc: Informal Opinion, Opt -(hut Provision for Municipal Elections
Dear Ms. Wainright;
You have requested an informal opinion for guidance from the Division of Elections on whether
a municipality can opt out of early voting as provided in section 101.657, Florida Statutes. The
short answer is yes if the municipality opts out by virtue of a special act, charter or ordinance
provision.
Since 1995, the Florida Elections Code (Chapters 97 through 106, Florida Statutes) has applied to
municipal elections. See section •100.3605, Florida Statutes; Chapter 95-178, Laws of Florida; DE
03-01. However, under section 100.3605, Florida Statutes, a municipality can "opt out" of
certain provisions of the elections code by virtue of a special act, charter or ordinance provision,
A municipality can not "opt out' if the statutory provision expresshy applies to municipalities
(for example, a municipality could not opt out of section 100.361, Florida Statutes, because it
expressly applies to municipal recalls).
In conclusion, a municipality can "opt out' of the early voting provision in section '101.657,
Florida Statutes, because it is applicable generally to all elections, in order to "opt out" the
municipality must enact a special act, charter or ordinance. In opting out, the municipality can
choose to offer its own variation of early voting or choose not to offer Carly voting at all. If the
municipality does nut opt out, the municipality must comply with all of the statutory
requirements for early voting under section] 01.657, Florida Statutes.
I hope this clarifies matters for you.
Res
M M the s
Assidta t General Counsel
The 14-A. Gray Huilding, Room 316 • 500 South Bronough Street • Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250 • (850) 245-6240
FAX: 1.650) 245-6260 a AVWW AddreHH: 9 r-\tail: n„-�fcvri.,ns<cfldu,.,lara.�l.ns