ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — This year's general election is coming up fast — Election Day is Nov. 5. When casting their vote, Floridians will have a chance to vote yes or no on six different state amendments.
In the following guide, 10 Tampa Bay will break down the initiative for each of those six amendments:
Amendment 1: Partisan election of members of district school boards
HJR 31, which made the ballot on June 21, 2023, seeks to require members of a district school board to be elected in a partisan election instead of a nonpartisan election. If passed, this amendment would only apply 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," elections officials stated.
This amendment is sponsored by the Florida Legislature.
Amendment 2: Right to fish and hunt
This amendment, HJR 1157, seeks to forever preserve fishing and hunting as a public right and preferred means of controlling fish and wildlife in the Sunshine State. The amendment also specifies that it does not limit the authority granted to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
HJR 1157 made the ballot on June 21, 2023 and is sponsored by the Florida Legislature.
Amendment 3: Adult personal use of marijuana
The third amendment in our guide is looking to allow Floridians 21 years and older "to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise."
The amendment also seeks to allow state medical marijuana treatment centers and other licensed entities to legally acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell and distribute marijuana products and accessories.
This amendment made the ballot on June 1, 2023, and is sponsored by Smart & Safe Florida.
Amendment 4: Amendment to limit government interference with abortion
The summary language of the amendment reads: “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.”
For more information on Amendment 4, click here. This amendment made the ballot on Jan. 5, 2024, and is sponsored by Floridians Protecting Freedom
Amendment 5: Annual adjustments to the value of certain homestead exemptions
HJR 7017 made the ballot on March 31, 2024. It proposes an annual adjustment for inflation to the value of current or current or future homestead exemptions that applies solely to levies other than school district levies and for people with legal or equitable title to real estate, maintain permanent residence on the real estate or are legally or naturally dependent on the owner.
If approved, HJR 7017 would take effect Jan. 1, 2025. This amendment is sponsored by the Florida Legislature.
Amendment 6: Repeal of public campaign financing requirement
The final amendment in our guide, SJR 114, proposes the state to revoke the provision that requires public financing for campaigns of candidates for elective statewide office "who agree to campaign spending limits."
This amendment made the ballot on April 12, 2024, and is sponsored by the Florida Legislature.
For more information on this year's general election, click here.
