By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — With the state Supreme Court this week signing off on ballot initiatives about abortion rights and recreational use of marijuana, Floridians in November will vote on six proposed constitutional amendments. Passage of each proposal would require support from at least 60 percent of voters. Here are brief descriptions of the six issues:
— ABORTION: In what could be 2024’s biggest political issue in Florida, voters will decide whether to enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution. The vote will come after Gov. Ron DeSantis and lawmakers approved preventing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The proposed constitutional amendment, in part, says: “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.”
— CAMPAIGN MONEY: Lawmakers approved placing a measure on the ballot to again try to repeal a program that offers state matching funds to gubernatorial and state Cabinet candidates. Voters approved the matching-funds program in 1998, and a repeal attempt failed in 2010. When the program was created, supporters said it could help reduce the influence of big-money contributors in statewide elections, but critics have long derided the program as welfare for politicians.
— FISHING AND HUNTING: Fishing and hunting have been traditions for generations of Floridians. Voters in November will decide whether to enshrine a right to fish and hunt in the state Constitution. With the backing of outdoors groups, lawmakers voted almost unanimously last year to place the measure on the ballot. In part, the proposal says hunting and fishing “shall be preserved forever as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife.”
— MARIJUANA: Eight years after voters approved a constitutional amendment that broadly allowed medical marijuana, they will decide this year whether to give the go-ahead to recreational use of marijuana. The political committee Safe & Smart Florida, backed heavily by the Trulieve medical-marijuana company, led the drive to put the measure on the ballot. It would allow people ages 21 and older to “possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption.”
— PROPERTY TAXES: Homeowners could receive slightly larger property-tax breaks if voters approve a constitutional amendment that the Legislature put on the ballot. The proposal would lead to adjusting part of the homestead property-tax exemption for inflation. Homeowners receive tax exemptions on the assessed values of their property up to $25,000 and on the values between $50,000 and $75,000. The proposal would require adjusting for inflation the exempt portion currently between $50,000 and $75,000.
— SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS: With supporters seeking to do away with a requirement that candidates run without party labels, voters will decide whether to hold partisan school-board elections. Florida historically had partisan school-board elections, but voters passed a constitutional amendment in 1998 to make the races non-partisan. Lawmakers, however, placed a measure on this year’s ballot that would return to partisan races starting in 2026. School board races in some areas have become battlegrounds in recent years.
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Edward, I too normally vote “no” on all ballot initiatives. We’ve gotten some real pigs added to our Constitution via this sneaky vehicle…. Since this is the easiest way to undo some of the stupidity added, I’d be in favor of simple/pure repeals when possible. I don’t know if these “undo” initiatives are truly repeals, or replacements with hidden pork. Devil, details.
A right not recognized and protected is easy to infringe, so I’d definitely support the hunting and fishing amendment. Government everywhere always grows, always infringes, never releases its grip.
At first read, my vote would go N, Y, Y, N, maybe, Y. But these bear further scrutiny.
Not on the ballot, but it should be:
1. I’d vote yes on a ballot initiative to ban ranked choice voting.
2. I’d like to see open primaries where nothing changes except all voters may vote in all primaries. Call it open bracket.
3. I’d vote to ban ballot initiatives, even if that occurred before 1 and 2 above.
I general, I agree with Joey on this. “No need to “enshrine” anything in the Constitution.” That said…
ABORTION: The proponents of this measure don’t give a rat’s rearend about women or so-called “women’s healthcare”. Hell, most of them can’t even define “woman”. This is a get-out-the-vote move is all, orchestrated by the Progressively-Marxist Democrats. The majority of Americans believe that there must be exceptions and there must be limitations. It’s the immovable extremes and politicians that keep the issue alive. So long as the issue has value in a political campaign, they will never resolve it. It’s a NO vote for me.
CAMPAIGN MONEY: Clearly, the initial intent of the 1998 measure has failed to produce the desired results. I think there should be limits placed on the amount of money that can be raised/spent on a given campaign. When candidates spend $500k to get a $28k a-year job… that’s all you need to know. It’s a YES vote for me.
FISHING AND HUNTING: Possibly the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of. I do not need government to give me permission to feed myself or my family. Who the hell comes up with this ignorance anyway? It’s a NO vote for me.
MARIJUANA: Decriminalization and Medical Use are as far as this should go. Unless of course you’re comfortable with knowing that the Pilot, EMT, LEO, daycare worker, teacher, politician, the driver next to you on the road, et al… might be stoned. It’s a NO vote for me.
PROPERTY TAXES: Fluctuation measures can be a double-edged sword. If it can go down, it can also go up… and trust me, if they can figure out a way to tax us more, they will do it. It’s a NO vote for me.
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS: Just because you call it a non-partisan election does not make it a non-partisan election. Most people seek School Board seats as a steppingstone to a bigger taxpayer-funded paycheck in politics. It’s one of the main reasons our Public School System is the failure it is today. Most board members are not there for the children, they’re there for themselves. I’m indifferent on this one because it doesn’t really matter… it will not solve the Marxist cancer pervading our schools.
Do your own homework and vote wisely… our future literally depends on it.
Some define viability (ability to survive outside the mother’s body) is closer to age 18 at the earliest. Some never really reach viability regardless of age.
If you want to smell reefer everywhere you go in Florida, vote yes. If you like feeling a little bit like an outlaw, kinda like Jesse James…vote no, then puff puff pass.
No need to “enshrine” anything in the Constitution.
I vote “No” across the board.
Pretty simple. Viability means the ability of a fetus to survive outside the mother’s body. Science says that’s 23 to 24 weeks.
I remember someone asking me to sign the petition for allowing abortion and they could not define ‘viability’ or ‘viable’… as they put it.