Fla. to change election process?

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - In a recommendations report requested by Florida Governor Rick Scott, the Secretary of State has outlined some possible changes to the Sunshine State's election process.

The report comes in the wake of Florida's difficulty with the 2012 presidential election, during which some counties weren't fully reporting until days after Republican candidate Mitt Romney's concession to President Barack Obama.

Florida boasts the fourth most electoral votes and was thought to be a key state last year. 

"All eyes [were] on Florida," said David Stafford, Escambia County's Supervisor of Elections.  "Because the other three states: New York, California and Texas, there's no question about which way those states traditionally over the last 15-20 years are going to go in the Presidential election. We are the epitome of a swing state." 

But last year, and the presidential election before, Florida has been more of a 'swing and miss state.' 

"Florida is on the map because of past experiences so anything that happens in Florida gets magnified," Stafford said.  "Nobody wants to have Florida as the butt of jokes on late night TV."

Stafford agrees with Governor Rick Scott and many lawmakers: election changes are needed.

The report discusses shortening what was a lengthy ballot, full of wordy amendments. 

"That was the most common complaint that we got throughout the election season in the general election:  'Why are these so long? Why are there so many [amendments]?' And why can't I understand them?’” Stafford said. 

Stafford and the secretary agree, shorten the ballot and extend early voting from eight days to 14.  The supervisors would get the final say in their counties, but have a six day window to play with. 

"You've got counties in the state with 5-thousand voters; you've got counties in the state with 1.2 million voters. So in an election where the smaller counties can have plenty of early voting in eight days, that needs to be balanced out with counties that need every second of every day,' Stafford said. 

Secretary Ken Detzner also requested more places where people can early vote, citing civic centers and stadiums as possible locations to make the process easier. 

To Stafford, it's a long-awaited start. 

"I think that we're headed in the right direction," Stafford said. 

Stafford says at least one bill will come out of Tallahassee at the legislative session in March addressing all the changes to elections in Florida.