Florida Laws on Handling of Vote Counts

The following are Sections 102.111 and 102.112 of Florida law, which apply to the handling of vote counts:

Section 102.111

Immediately after certification of any election by the county canvassing board, the results shall be forwarded to the Department of State concerning the election of any federal or state officer. The governor, the secretary of state, and the director of the division of elections shall be the elections canvassing commission. The elections canvassing commission shall, as soon as the official results are compiled from all counties, certify the returns of the election and determine and declare who has been elected for each office. In the event that any member of the elections canvassing commission is unavailable to certify the returns of any election, such member shall be replaced by a substitute member of the cabinet as determined by the director of the division of elections. If the county returns are not received by the Department of State by 5 p.m. of the seventh day following an election, all missing counties shall be ignored, and the results shown by the returns on file shall be certified.

Section 102.112

The county canvassing board or a majority thereof shall file the county returns for the election of a federal or state officer with the Department of State immediately after certification of the election results. Returns must be filed by 5 p.m. on the seventh day following the first primary and general election and by 3 p.m. on the third day following the second primary. If the returns are not received by the department by the time specified, such returns may be ignored and the results on file at that time may be certified by the department.

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