Overview

The Secretary of State of Florida is the chief election officer of the state. Fla. Stat. § 97.012. The Secretary of State “serves at the pleasure” of the Governor. Fla. Stat. § 20.10(1).

Election-Related Duties

The key duties of the Secretary of State are:

  1. Directing the Department of State to adopt rules that ensure that the interpretation and implementation of election laws is done uniformly. Fla. Stat. § 97.012(1).
  2. Providing uniform standards for voter registration, as well as implementing, operating, and maintaining a “single, uniform, official, centralized, interactive, computerized statewide voter registration system…” Fla. Stat. §§ 97.012(2), 98.035(1).
  3. Providing technical assistance to Supervisors of Elections on voting systems, voter education, and training election personnel. Fla. Stat. §§ 97.012(4), (5).
  4. Ensuring the state complies with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Fla. Stat. § 97.012(7).
  5. Initiating lawsuits “to enforce the performance of any duties of a county supervisor of elections or any official performing duties with respect to chapters 97 through 102 and 105 or to enforce compliance with a rule of the Department of State adopted to interpret or implement any of those chapters.” Fla. Stat. § 97.012(14).
  6. Providing the public with “election fraud education” in addition to operating a voter fraud hotline. Fla. Stat. §§ 97.012(6), (12). This all feeds into the Secretary of State’s responsibility to investigate any “irregularities or fraud involving voter registration, voting, candidate petition, or issue petition activities…” Fla. Stat. § 97.012(15).
  7. Providing written guidance to the Supervisors of Elections on their official duties as it pertains to the Florida Election Code or rules adopted by the Department of State. Fla. Stat. § 97.012(16).
  8. Training Supervisors of Elections and members of County Canvassing Boards on matching signatures. Fla. Stat. § 97.012(17).
  9. Actively seeking out and collecting data and statistics to ensure “the effectiveness of election laws.” Fla. Stat. § 97.012(3).

Selection and Vacancy Information