As Democrats grapple with plans to stage their own do-over presidential primary by mail, legislators are considering a bill that would allow the governor to call a mail ballot election. But it would be allowed only in emergencies like pandemics or hurricanes when an election otherwise would be suspended.

The limited mail ballot proposal is part of a 54-page annual rewrite of the state election code. The bill (HB 1201) passed unanimously Thursday in the House Ethics & Elections Committee. Interestingly, Democrats on the committee could have run amendments to make it easier to hold mail ballot elections, but didn't.

"I'm a big proponent of of mail ballots, but we need to do this in baby steps," said Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota. "You have to build confidence over time by letting people phase them in. I wouldn't want this (bill) to be a vehicle for putting on a mail ballot election."

Florida Democratic Party chairwoman Karen Thurman is proposing a
party-run mail ballot election, which would be conducted independently
of the state. Gov. Charlie Crist says the state should oversee any mail
ballot election to ensure the "integrity" of the outcome.