As this year’s presidential election is weighing heavy on the nation’s minds, local propositions and elections are often being pushed aside and neglected. But it is vital to consider our local government as well. On this year’s ballot, Floridians will get the chance to vote on six proposed constitutional amendments: partisan school board elections, a state constitutional right to hunt and fish, recreational marijuana legalization, right to abortion, homestead exemption inflation adjustment, and repeal of public campaign financing. Much of the wording and legalese of these propositions is difficult to understand without further research, so it is important to do your part and learn more before casting a vote in the upcoming November ballot. Here is a brief explanation of each to begin your research as well as a deep dive into the more controversial amendments in the running.
Before we begin, it is important to understand how your vote counts, as well as how these propositions have been voted onto the ballot. For each amendment, a 60% majority of votes is required for it to be passed or not. As always, each and every vote counts. On top of this, the constitutional initiatives on this year’s ballot have come from either the Florida Legislature or citizens. Each proposed amendment required a 60% majority vote both in the House of Representatives and the Florida Senate to be put onto the ballot, allowing citizens a chance to vote on it for themselves. Remember, your vote is your voice!
Some of the propositions are relatively self-explanatory in their wording. The second proposed amendment would establish a state constitutional right to hunt and fish, meaning it would be harder for the State to pass legislation against gaming and sporting. Supporters of this initiative claim that this would help uphold Southern tradition and culture. Dissenters, however, argue that this amendment is more of an issue of wildlife conservation versus individual rights. The fifth proposed amendment will decide how homestead tax exemption functions in relation to current and future inflation, and the sixth would alter whether public funds distributed to candidates for statewide offices should be repealed.
As mentioned before, though, three of these amendments—the first, third, and fourth—are particularly controversial. Citizens have been advertising these amendments all throughout Pensacola, from signs in front yards to people standing at busy intersections. The first proposed amendment would allow parties to nominate their own candidates for school board elections and increase partisan transparency for these candidates. Many argue that this would not be beneficial, as it would involve politics more heavily in education. Others say that it would help citizens understand the political ideology of the candidates and be able to better understand their personal biases.
Amendment 3 focuses on the fight for recreational marijuana legalization, one that has been heavily debated nationally and especially within the state of Florida. This proposition would make it legal for people 21 years and older to recreationally possess up to 3 grams of marijuana or 5 grams of cannabis concentrate. This change in law would also enable the ability to sell and buy marijuana products without a medical marijuana card, instead of the current Florida policy of only legalized medical usage.
The fourth amendment is perhaps the most hotly debated, as it focuses on government interference in abortion. Assenting votes would give more authority to healthcare providers, allowing them to perform an abortion when deemed necessary for the safety of a mother, provided the procedure is done before viability. The current statewide law limits abortions to within the first six weeks of pregnancy, and it also gives more power to the government rather than healthcare providers in determining whether to perform the procedure.
Each of these amendments plays a critical role in our state government. As such, learning more, understanding the wording of each amendment, and making an educated decision in your vote in the November ballot is vital for the future of our state. It is particularly important to keep the three most debated and controversial propositions, as these are monumental decisions for the state that would likely alter the state laws for decades to come. So, as you navigate the upcoming election, be sure not to neglect local and state government policies, candidates, and propositions.