Early voting starts today. Here are our recommendations for the state amendments and a local referendum.
The Florida Legislature voted to put four amendments to the state’s constitution on the ballot. We recommend voting “No” on all four. We support the two that are citizen initiatives.
- In Florida, passing an amendment requires the support of at least 60% of voters. Only two other states require 60% or higher: Illinois and New Hampshire.
We know this part of the ballot can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Our advice is to study what each amendment is actually proposing so you don’t get hung up by the language—which can be confusing.
- To help you do just that this election, we worked up a breakdown for each amendment that includes the most common “for” and “against” arguments and what a “yes” and “no” vote will mean. We also share our recommendations.
AMENDMENT 1: PARTISAN ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS
For: Because public education has become polarized, school board elections have already become partisan.
Against: Partisan school board races exclude NPAs (No Party Affiliated voters) from voting in primaries and increase political polarization.
What Your Vote Does: “Yes” changes school board elections to partisan elections beginning in 2026, requiring the candidate’s political party to be designated on the ballot and triggering closed primary elections. “No” keeps primaries open for all voters.
Inweekly Recommendation: Vote “No.” We’re for keeping partisan politics out of our schools.
AMENDMENT 2: RIGHT TO FISH AND HUNT
For: This enshrines the right to hunt and fish in the Florida Constitution and ensures fishing and hunting will never be banned.
Against: If we already have a statute protecting the right to hunt and fish, why does this need to be placed in the Constitution?
What Your Vote Does: “Yes” establishes a constitutional right to hunt and fish in Florida and makes them the preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. “No” preserves those rights established in 2002, just not in the Constitution.
Inweekly Recommendation: Vote “No.” There’s no need to protect a right that’s already protected, and the vague language of this proposal could potentially lead to changes in wildlife regulation and rules
AMENDMENT 3: ADULT PERSONAL USE OF MARIJUANA
For: Tax revenue from the legal cannabis industry will reach over $4 billion in 2025. No evidence from the 37 states that have legalized marijuana shows that it increased underage consumption in the regulated marketplace. Florida law already bans smoking in public areas, so Gov. DeSantis’ complaint of smelling pot everywhere isn’t valid.
Against: Opponents claim the amendment is misleading, and marijuana is illegal under federal law and will remain illegal even if it passes. They also assert it gives the corporations growing, distributing and selling marijuana a monopoly.
What Your Vote Does: “Yes” legalizes recreational marijuana use in Florida by adults 21 years old and older, allows individuals to possess up to three ounces of marijuana and authorizes existing Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell and distribute marijuana products and accessories. “No” keeps the recreational use of marijuana illegal in Florida and maintains the current regulations for medical use.
Inweekly Recommendation: Vote “Yes.” We have lots of reasons to support this amendment, but one that really matters to us is that it will lead to fewer unnecessary arrests and prosecutions for simple possession of marijuana.
AMENDMENT 4: LIMIT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE WITH ABORTION
For: The Florida Legislature has made abortions nearly impossible, even if the woman’s life is in danger and the pregnancy isn’t viable. Doctors face possible felony charges and loss of their medical licenses. Supporters believe Floridians deserve the freedom to make personal medical decisions, free of government intrusion. The amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.
Against: Opponents say the amendment is too vague and will lead to an unregulated abortion industry. However, it’s not unusual for an amendment to lack definitions, and not having them doesn’t prevent any limits to abortion rights.
What Your Vote Does: “Yes” overturns Florida’s six-week abortion ban by essentially reinstating the restrictions of Roe v. Wade, which provided federally protected abortion access until a fetus is viable. If passed, abortions could not be prohibited, penalized, delayed or restricted before fetal viability, typically considered around 24 weeks of pregnancy, or when a health care provider determines it’s necessary to protect the patient’s health. “No” keeps the current six-week ban in place.
Inweekly Recommendation: Vote “Yes.” We believe that abortion is healthcare, and that healthcare decisions should be made by individuals and their doctors, not politicians.
AMENDMENT 5: ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE VALUE OF CERTAIN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS
For: Homeowners who qualify for a homestead property tax exemption will pay less property tax. The exemption would increase each Jan. 1 if the Consumer Price Index also increases.
Against: The amendment would reduce revenue available to cities and counties by millions of dollars.
What Your Vote Does: “Yes” reduces the property taxes on primary residences and the tax revenue available for county, city and special district programs and services. “No” leaves the homestead exemption as is.
Inweekly Recommendation: Vote “No.” We believe in letting local governments determine any cuts in property taxes. A larger exemption takes control away from them.
AMENDMENT 6: REPEAL OF PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FUNDING
For: The money could be better used for other programs, such as education, health care and housing, rather than political campaigns.
Against: The matching fund program gives small-dollar donors a greater voice and encourages candidates to seek support from broad groups of voters. If the program is repealed, wealthy donors and special interest groups would no longer be limited in the amounts they can contribute.
What Your Vote Does: “Yes” ends Florida’s public campaign financing program and removes spending limits for publicly funded candidates for Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Agriculture. “No” means no changes to the program or spending limits.
Inweekly Recommendation: Vote “No.” This program helps level the playing field for smaller candidates, which we support, and keeps limits on contributions.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY REFERENDUM
CONTINUATION OF ONE-HALF CENT SALES SURTAX TO FINANCE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES FOR TEN (10) YEARS
For: Since 1997, the Escambia County School Board has levied a one-half cent sales surtax to fund new construction, renovations and additions to existing schools, land acquisition and make improvements to schools. The voters have approved each 10-year renewal because of the belief sales taxes are a better funding source than property taxes.
Against: The School Board has closed or consolidated 19 schools in mostly Black neighborhoods.
What Your Vote Does: “Yes” begins another 10-year period for the sales tax, beginning Jan. 1, 2028, for all public schools. “No” ends the tax at the end of 2027, forcing the School Board to find other funds for its construction projects.
Inweekly Recommendation: Vote “Yes.” Our public schools need all the help they can get.
Note: The state has added financial impact paragraphs from the 2023 Financial Impact Estimating Conference to the sections for Amendments 3 (recreational marijuana) and 4 (reproductive rights).
The statement accompanying Amendment 4 has been highly controversial. A circuit court judge ruled that the initial financial impact statement was legally defective and ordered a new one be written. The state appealed, arguing that no court could review the ballot statements, no matter how inaccurate or misleading. The new financial impact statement wasn’t much better. However, the First District Court of Appeal and Florida Supreme Court refused to rule on whether the courts should also review the new statement.
After failing to get a court hearing, the ACLU of Florida pointed out, “The unlawful financial impact statement appended to Amendment 4’s ballot summary does not alter the effect of Amendment 4, which, when passed, will provide crucial protections to limit government interference with abortion.”
For more on the amendments and candidates, download the League of Women Voters’ election guide.
