2024 Ballot Amendments
Amendment 1 – Partisan School Board Members
“PARTISAN ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS — Proposing amendments to the State Constitution to require members of a district school board to be elected in a partisan election rather than a nonpartisan election and to specify that the amendment only applies to elections held on or after the November 2026 general election. However, partisan primary elections may occur before the 2026 general election for purposes of nominating political party candidates to that office for placement on the 2026 general election ballot.”
Voting Yes on this amendment (HJR 31) would make district school board elections partisan again, the way they were before voters decided to make them nonpartisan in 1998. Candidates’ political parties would be listed with their names on ballots.
Voting No would leave the races nonpartisan.
Amendment 2 – Right to Fish and Hunt
“RIGHT TO FISH AND HUNT. — Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to preserve forever fishing and hunting, including by the use of traditional methods, as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. Specifies that the amendment does not limit the authority granted to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Section 9 of Article IV of the State Constitution.”
Voting Yes would preserve hunting and fishing “forever as a public right” in the Florida constitution and establish that hunting and fishing are the preferred means for “responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife.”
Voting No would leave things as they are.
Amendment 3 – Recreational Marijuana
“ADULT PERSONAL USE OF MARIJUANA. — Allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise; allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories. Applies to Florida law; does not change or immunize violations of federal law. Establishes possession limits for personal use. Allows consistent legislation. Defines terms. Provides effective date.”
Voting Yes means anyone 21 years old and older would be able to use and possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana with not more than 5 grams in a concentrated form (with assorted restrictions). Pot could be sold through marijuana dispensaries without the need for a medical marijuana card.
Voting No keeps recreational marijuana illegal.
Amendment 4 – Abortion Access
“AMENDMENT TO LIMIT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE WITH ABORTION: No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.”
This is likely to be the biggest fight and the one most likely to get national attention. In the same year the state limited abortion to the first six weeks of gestation, before many people even know they’re pregnant, this amendment would void that law.
Voting Yes would make abortion legal until fetal viability, which is generally considered to be around 23-24 weeks. It would also allow abortions when necessary to protect a patient’s health, as determined by a health care provider.
Voting No would leave abortions illegal in Florida after 6 weeks unless two physicians are willing to state that the pregnant person would die without one.
Amendment 5 – Homestead Annual Inflation Adjustment
“ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT TO HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION VALUE: Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to require an annual adjustment for inflation to the value of current or future homestead exemptions that apply solely to levies other than school district levies and for which every person who has legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, or another person legally or naturally dependent upon the owner is eligible. This amendment takes effect January 1, 2025.”
This amendment came from the Florida Legislature and would tie a portion of homestead property tax exemptions to inflation rates.
Voting Yes could mean savings for homeowners who apply for homestead exemptions.
Voting No would leave homestead exemption rates as they are now.
Amendment 6 – Public Campaign Financing
“REPEAL OF PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING REQUIREMENT: Proposing the repeal of the provision in the State Constitution which requires public financing for campaigns of candidates for elective statewide office who agree to campaign spending limits.”
Voting Yes means there would be no more public funding for candidates for governor/lieutenant governor, attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner.
Voting No leaves things as they are.
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