Fla. Stat. 101.151
Specifications for ballots


(1)(a)

Marksense ballots shall be printed on paper of such thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from the back and shall meet the specifications of the voting system that will be used to tabulate the ballots.Polling places and early voting sites may employ a ballot-on-demand production system to print individual marksense ballots, including provisional ballots, for eligible electors. Ballot-on-demand technology may be used to produce marksense vote-by-mail and election-day ballots.

(1)(a)

Marksense ballots shall be printed on paper of such thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from the back and shall meet the specifications of the voting system that will be used to tabulate the ballots.

(b)

Polling places and early voting sites may employ a ballot-on-demand production system to print individual marksense ballots, including provisional ballots, for eligible electors. Ballot-on-demand technology may be used to produce marksense vote-by-mail and election-day ballots.

(2)(a)

The ballot must include the following office titles above the names of the candidates for the respective offices in the following order:
The office titles of President and Vice President above the names of the candidates for President and Vice President of the United States nominated by the political party that received the highest vote for Governor in the last general election of the Governor in this state, followed by the names of other candidates for President and Vice President of the United States who have been properly nominated.
The office titles of United States Senator and Representative in Congress.
The office titles of Governor and Lieutenant Governor; Attorney General; Chief Financial Officer; Commissioner of Agriculture; State Attorney, with the applicable judicial circuit; and Public Defender, with the applicable judicial circuit.
The office titles of State Senator and State Representative, with the applicable district for the office printed beneath.
The office titles of Clerk of the Circuit Court or, when the Clerk of the Circuit Court also serves as the County Comptroller, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, when authorized by law; Clerk of the County Court, when authorized by law; Sheriff; Property Appraiser; Tax Collector; District Superintendent of Schools; and Supervisor of Elections.
The office titles of Board of County Commissioners, with the applicable district printed beneath each office, and such other county and district offices as are involved in the election, in the order fixed by the Department of State, followed, in the year of their election, by “Party Offices,” and thereunder the offices of state and county party executive committee members.
In a general election, in addition to the names printed on the ballot, a blank space shall be provided under each office for which a write-in candidate has qualified. With respect to write-in candidates, if two or more candidates are seeking election to one office, only one blank space shall be provided.When more than one candidate is nominated for office, the candidates for such office shall qualify and run in a group or district, and the group or district number shall be printed beneath the name of the office. Each nominee of a political party chosen in a primary shall appear on the general election ballot in the same numbered group or district as on the primary election ballot.If in any election all the offices as set forth in paragraph (a) are not involved, those offices not to be filled shall be omitted and the remaining offices shall be arranged on the ballot in the order named.

(2)(a)

The ballot must include the following office titles above the names of the candidates for the respective offices in the following order:The office titles of President and Vice President above the names of the candidates for President and Vice President of the United States nominated by the political party that received the highest vote for Governor in the last general election of the Governor in this state, followed by the names of other candidates for President and Vice President of the United States who have been properly nominated.The office titles of United States Senator and Representative in Congress.The office titles of Governor and Lieutenant Governor; Attorney General; Chief Financial Officer; Commissioner of Agriculture; State Attorney, with the applicable judicial circuit; and Public Defender, with the applicable judicial circuit.The office titles of State Senator and State Representative, with the applicable district for the office printed beneath.The office titles of Clerk of the Circuit Court or, when the Clerk of the Circuit Court also serves as the County Comptroller, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, when authorized by law; Clerk of the County Court, when authorized by law; Sheriff; Property Appraiser; Tax Collector; District Superintendent of Schools; and Supervisor of Elections.The office titles of Board of County Commissioners, with the applicable district printed beneath each office, and such other county and district offices as are involved in the election, in the order fixed by the Department of State, followed, in the year of their election, by “Party Offices,” and thereunder the offices of state and county party executive committee members.
1. The office titles of President and Vice President above the names of the candidates for President and Vice President of the United States nominated by the political party that received the highest vote for Governor in the last general election of the Governor in this state, followed by the names of other candidates for President and Vice President of the United States who have been properly nominated.
2. The office titles of United States Senator and Representative in Congress.
3. The office titles of Governor and Lieutenant Governor; Attorney General; Chief Financial Officer; Commissioner of Agriculture; State Attorney, with the applicable judicial circuit; and Public Defender, with the applicable judicial circuit.
4. The office titles of State Senator and State Representative, with the applicable district for the office printed beneath.
5. The office titles of Clerk of the Circuit Court or, when the Clerk of the Circuit Court also serves as the County Comptroller, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, when authorized by law; Clerk of the County Court, when authorized by law; Sheriff; Property Appraiser; Tax Collector; District Superintendent of Schools; and Supervisor of Elections.
6. The office titles of Board of County Commissioners, with the applicable district printed beneath each office, and such other county and district offices as are involved in the election, in the order fixed by the Department of State, followed, in the year of their election, by “Party Offices,” and thereunder the offices of state and county party executive committee members.

(b)

In a general election, in addition to the names printed on the ballot, a blank space shall be provided under each office for which a write-in candidate has qualified. With respect to write-in candidates, if two or more candidates are seeking election to one office, only one blank space shall be provided.

(c)

When more than one candidate is nominated for office, the candidates for such office shall qualify and run in a group or district, and the group or district number shall be printed beneath the name of the office. Each nominee of a political party chosen in a primary shall appear on the general election ballot in the same numbered group or district as on the primary election ballot.

(d)

If in any election all the offices as set forth in paragraph (a) are not involved, those offices not to be filled shall be omitted and the remaining offices shall be arranged on the ballot in the order named.

(3)(a)

The names of the candidates of the party that received the highest number of votes for Governor in the last election in which a Governor was elected shall be placed first for each office on the general election ballot, together with an appropriate abbreviation of the party name; the names of the candidates of the party that received the second highest vote for Governor shall be placed second for each office, together with an appropriate abbreviation of the party name.Minor political party candidates shall have their names appear on the general election ballot following the names of recognized political parties, in the same order as they were qualified, followed by the names of candidates with no party affiliation, in the order as they were qualified.

(3)(a)

The names of the candidates of the party that received the highest number of votes for Governor in the last election in which a Governor was elected shall be placed first for each office on the general election ballot, together with an appropriate abbreviation of the party name; the names of the candidates of the party that received the second highest vote for Governor shall be placed second for each office, together with an appropriate abbreviation of the party name.

(b)

Minor political party candidates shall have their names appear on the general election ballot following the names of recognized political parties, in the same order as they were qualified, followed by the names of candidates with no party affiliation, in the order as they were qualified.

(4)(a)

The names of candidates for each office shall be arranged alphabetically as to surnames on a primary election ballot.When two or more candidates running for the same office on an election ballot have the same or a similar surname, the word “incumbent” must appear next to the incumbent’s name.

(4)(a)

The names of candidates for each office shall be arranged alphabetically as to surnames on a primary election ballot.

(b)

When two or more candidates running for the same office on an election ballot have the same or a similar surname, the word “incumbent” must appear next to the incumbent’s name.

(5)

The primary election ballot shall be arranged so that the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor are joined in a single voting space to allow each elector to cast a single vote for the joint candidacies for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, if applicable.

(6)

The general election ballot shall be arranged so that the offices of President and Vice President are joined in a single voting space to allow each elector to cast a single vote for the joint candidacies for President and Vice President and so that the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor are joined in a single voting space to allow each elector to cast a single vote for the joint candidacies for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

(7)

Except for justices or judges seeking retention, the names of unopposed candidates shall not appear on the general election ballot. Each unopposed candidate shall be deemed to have voted for himself or herself.

(8)

In counties subject to multi-language ballot requirements, the supervisor may petition the United States Department of Justice for authorization for the supervisor to print and deliver single-language ballots for each minority language required.

(9)(a)

The Department of State shall adopt rules prescribing a uniform primary and general election ballot for each certified voting system. The rules shall incorporate the requirements set forth in this section and shall prescribe additional matters and forms that include, without limitation:
The ballot title followed by clear and unambiguous ballot instructions and directions limited to a single location on the ballot, either:
Centered across the top of the ballot; or
In the leftmost column, with no individual races in that column unless it is the only column on the ballot;
Individual race layout; and
Overall ballot layout.
The rules must graphically depict a sample uniform primary and general election ballot form for each certified voting system.

(9)(a)

The Department of State shall adopt rules prescribing a uniform primary and general election ballot for each certified voting system. The rules shall incorporate the requirements set forth in this section and shall prescribe additional matters and forms that include, without limitation:The ballot title followed by clear and unambiguous ballot instructions and directions limited to a single location on the ballot, either:
Centered across the top of the ballot; or
In the leftmost column, with no individual races in that column unless it is the only column on the ballot;
Individual race layout; andOverall ballot layout.
1. The ballot title followed by clear and unambiguous ballot instructions and directions limited to a single location on the ballot, either:a. Centered across the top of the ballot; orb. In the leftmost column, with no individual races in that column unless it is the only column on the ballot;
a. Centered across the top of the ballot; or
b. In the leftmost column, with no individual races in that column unless it is the only column on the ballot;
2. Individual race layout; and
3. Overall ballot layout.

(b)

The rules must graphically depict a sample uniform primary and general election ballot form for each certified voting system.

Source: Section 101.151 — Specifications for ballots, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0101.­151 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

101.001
Precincts and polling places
101.002
Use of system by municipalities
101.015
Standards for voting systems
101.017
Bureau of Voting Systems Certification
101.019
Ranked-choice voting prohibited
101.20
Publication of ballot form
101.21
Official ballots
101.021
Elector to vote the primary ballot of the political party in which he or she is registered
101.23
Election inspector to keep list of those voting
101.24
Ballot boxes and ballots
101.031
Instructions for electors
101.34
Custody of voting system
101.041
Secret voting
101.43
Substitute ballot
101.043
Identification required at polls
101.045
Electors must be registered in precinct
101.048
Provisional ballots
101.49
Procedure of election officers where signatures differ
101.049
Provisional ballots
101.51
Electors to occupy booth alone
101.051
Electors seeking assistance in casting ballots
101.58
Supervising and observing registration and election processes
101.62
Request for vote-by-mail ballots
101.64
Delivery of vote-by-mail ballots
101.65
Instructions to absent electors
101.67
Safekeeping of mailed ballots
101.68
Canvassing of vote-by-mail ballot
101.69
Voting in person
101.71
Polling place
101.74
Temporary change of polling place in case of emergency
101.75
Municipal elections
101.111
Voter challenges
101.131
Watchers at polls
101.151
Specifications for ballots
101.161
Referenda
101.171
Copy of constitutional amendment to be available at voting locations
101.252
Candidates entitled to have names printed on certain ballots
101.254
When nominated names to appear in groups or districts
101.292
Definitions
101.293
Competitive sealed bids and proposals required
101.294
Purchase and sale of voting equipment
101.295
Penalties for violation
101.341
Prohibited activities by voting system custodians and deputy custodians
101.545
Retention and destruction of certain election materials
101.572
Public inspection of ballots
101.591
Voting system audit
101.595
Analysis and reports of voting problems
101.655
Supervised voting by absent electors in certain facilities
101.657
Early voting
101.661
Voting vote-by-mail ballots
101.662
Accessibility of vote-by-mail ballots
101.663
Electors
101.665
Administration of oaths
101.694
Mailing of ballots upon receipt of federal postcard application
101.697
Electronic transmission of election materials
101.698
Absentee voting in emergency situations
101.715
Accessibility of polling places for people having a disability
101.731
Short title
101.732
Definitions relating to Elections Emergency Act
101.733
Election emergency
101.2512
Candidates’ names on general election ballots
101.2515
Translation of ballot language
101.5601
Short title
101.5602
Purpose
101.5603
Definitions relating to Electronic Voting Systems Act
101.5604
Adoption of system
101.5605
Examination and approval of equipment
101.5606
Requirements for approval of systems
101.5607
Department of State to maintain voting system information
101.5608
Voting by electronic or electromechanical method
101.5610
Inspection of ballot by election board
101.5611
Instructions to electors
101.5612
Testing of tabulating equipment
101.5613
Examination of equipment during voting
101.5614
Canvass of returns
101.5911
Rulemaking authority for voting system audit procedures
101.6101
Short title
101.6102
Mail ballot elections
101.6103
Mail ballot election procedure
101.6104
Challenge of votes
101.6105
Vote-by-mail voting
101.6106
Application of other election laws
101.6107
Department of State to adopt rules
101.6921
Delivery of special vote-by-mail ballot to certain first-time voters
101.6923
Special vote-by-mail ballot instructions for certain first-time voters
101.6925
Canvassing special vote-by-mail ballots
101.6951
State write-in vote-by-mail ballot
101.6952
Vote-by-mail ballots for absent uniformed services and overseas voters
101.56042
Punch card type systems prohibited
101.56062
Standards for accessible voting systems
101.56063
Accessibility of voting systems and polling places
101.56064
Application for federal funds under ch. 2002-281
101.56065
Voting system defects
101.56075
Voting methods

Current through Fall 2025

§ 101.151. Specifications for ballots's source at flsenate​.gov