FL H0227

Authorizes absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters who do not receive an official absentee ballot to use federal write-in absentee ballots to vote in any federal election and state or local elections with two or more candidates.

Allows voters to designate candidates by writing candidate names or, in general elections, political party names on federal write-in ballots; permits abbreviations, misspellings, and minor name variations to be disregarded in determining ballot validity.

Establishes that votes for joint candidacies (such as President/Vice President) are valid if written for one or both qualified candidates on the same ticket.

Requires federal write-in absentee ballots to be canvassed at 7 p.m. on election day; provides that if an official absentee ballot is received by that time, the federal write-in ballot becomes invalid.

Directs the Department of State to adopt rules defining valid votes on federal write-in absentee ballots, addressing candidate name variations, office designations, political party designations, and other specific voting scenarios.