2024 Ballot Breakdown

Florida appeals court judges and Supreme Court justices are on the ballot in nonpartisan elections every six years so voters can determine whether they should stay in office. This regular vote is called “merit retention.” Their terms are staggered. This year, 2 Supreme Court justices (out of seven) and 3 appeals court judges in our district have merit retention elections.

Partisan School Board Elections

Overview: Amendment 1 would make school board elections partisan beginning in 2026. Candidates would be nominated for the general election through partisan primaries and be featured on the ballot with partisan labels, such as Democrat and Republican. As of 2024, the Florida Constitution requires school board elections to be nonpartisan, meaning that partisan labels do not appear on the ballot next to a candidate's name.

 A YES VOTE ON AMENDMENT 1: A "yes" vote supports making school board elections partisan beginning in the November 2026 general election and for primary elections nominating party candidates for the 2026 election.

A NO VOTE ON AMENDMENT 1: A "no" vote opposes making school board elections partisan, thereby maintaining current procedures where school board members are elected in a nonpartisan election.

Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment 

 Overview: The ballot measure would provide a state constitutional right to hunt and fish and declare that hunting and fishing are the preferred means for "responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife" and "shall be preserved forever as a public right." The amendment would not limit the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's constitutional powers under Article IV, Section 9.

A YES VOTE ON AMENDMENT 2: A "yes" vote supports establishing a constitutional right to hunt and fish in Florida.

A NO VOTE ON AMENDMENT 2: A "no" vote opposes establishing a constitutional right to hunt and fish in Florida.

Marijuana Legalization Initiative

 Overview: The initiative would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years old and older. Individuals would be allowed to possess up to three ounces of marijuana (about 85 grams), with up to five grams in the form of concentrate. Existing Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers would be authorized under the initiative to sell marijuana to adults for personal use. The Florida State Legislature could provide by state law for the licensure of entities other than existing Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers to cultivate and sell marijuana products.

 A YES VOTE ON AMENDMENT 3: A "yes" vote supports legalizing marijuana for adults 21 years old and older and allowing individuals to possess up to three ounces of marijuana.

A NO VOTE ON AMENDMENT 3: A "no" vote opposes legalizing marijuana for adult use in Florida.

Right to Abortion Initiative

 Overview: The initiative would provide a constitutional right to abortion before fetal viability (estimated to be around 24 weeks) or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider.[1]

The following language would be added to the state constitution: "Except as provided in Article X, Section 22, 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."[1]

The initiative would not change the state legislature's authority to enact a law requiring the parents of a minor to be notified if their child is seeking an abortion, with exceptions that can be attained through a judicial waiver.

 A YES VOTE ON AMENDMENT 4: A "yes" vote supports establishing a constitutional right to abortion before fetal viability.

A NO VOTE ON AMENDMENT 4: A "no" vote opposes establishing a constitutional right to abortion before fetal viability.

Annual Inflation Adjustment for Homestead Property Tax Exemption Value Amendment

 Overview: As of 2024, in Florida, property tax (millage) rates were set by counties, school districts, cities, and special districts. Homes in Florida are assessed at just value (market value), minus the homestead exemption. The homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of a property. Every primary residence is eligible for a $25,000 homestead exemption, which exempts that amount from all taxes. Another $25,000 homestead exemption is applied on a homestead's value between $50,000 and $75,000, which exempts that amount from all taxes except school district taxes.

The amendment would provide for an annual inflation adjustment for the value of the homestead property tax exemption that applies to non-school taxes. The adjustment would be made every year on January 1 based on the percent change in the Consumer Price Index reported by the U.S. Department of Labor if the change is positive.

 A YES VOTE ON AMENDMENT 5: A "yes" vote supports an annual inflation adjustment to the amount of assessed value that is exempt from property taxation.

A NO VOTE ON AMENDMENT 5: A "no" vote opposes an annual inflation adjustment to the amount of assessed value that is exempt from property taxation.

Repeal of Public Financing for Statewide Campaigns

Overview: The amendment would repeal Section 7 of Article VI of the Florida Constitution, which provides for public campaign financing for statewide candidates who agree to spending limits. Currently, under Article VI, public campaign financing is available for candidates for the offices of governor, attorney general, chief financial officer, and commissioner of agriculture.

Public financing in Florida is available for candidates for the offices of governor and elected cabinet members (attorney general, chief financial officer, and commissioner of agriculture). To qualify for public campaign financing, a candidate must:

• not be running unopposed;
• agree to expenditure limits;
• raise $150,000 (for gubernatorial candidates) or $100,000 (for cabinet candidates);
• limit loans or contributions from the candidate’s personal funds to $25,000 and limit contributions from political parties to $250,000; and
• report campaign financing data to the division of elections and submit to a post-election financial audit.

The public campaign financing program is funded by the General Revenue Fund. In 2022, the expenditure limit for gubernatorial candidates receiving public campaign financing was $30.29 million ($2.00 per registered voter) and the limit for cabinet candidates was $15.14 million ($1.00 per registered voter).

 A YES VOTE ON AMENDMENT 6: A "yes" vote supports repealing the state constitutional provision that provides for public financing of campaigns for those running for elective statewide office who agree to campaign spending limits.

A NO VOTE ON AMENDMENT 6: A "no" vote opposes repealing the constitutional provision that allows for the public financing of campaigns, therefore continuing to allow public campaign financing for statewide candidates who agree to certain spending limits.