6 amendments on Florida's 2024 election ballot: What they mean
Do you know about the 2024 Florida Amendments ?
Voters will be faced with six constitutional amendment proposals on the Nov. 5 ballot. Each needs at least 60% of votes to be enshrined in the Florida Constitution.
Are you still unsure about what each amendment means and whether you're going to cast a "yes" or "no" vote?
In this story, we highlight each amendment to help you prepare for Election Day , which is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Monday, Oct. 7. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot, previously known as an "absentee ballot," is Thursday, Oct. 24. If you wanted to vote on the candidates and the six Florida Amendments ahead of time, early voting runs Saturday, Oct. 26, to Saturday, Nov. 2, with times varying by county .
A video playlist at the top of this story and a video at the bottom further explains each proposed amendment and offers political expertise from USA TODAY Network-Florida journalists.
Early voting: Here's when it starts in Florida, including time, date and by county
2024 Florida Amendments: Amendment 1, partisan election of members of district school boards aka 'partisan school board member amendment'
Sponsor:Florida Legislature
Summary: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.
2024 Florida Amendments: Amendment 2, right to fish and hunt
Sponsor:Florida Legislature
Summary: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 of Article IV of the State Constitution.
Digging deeper into Amendment 2: Pros and cons of Florida hunting and fishing ballot initiative
2024 Florida Amendments: Amendment 3, adult personal use of marijuana or 'recreational marijuana amendment'
Sponsor:Smart & Safe Florida
Summary: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.
2024 Florida Amendments: Amendment 4, amendment to limit government interference with abortion or ' abortion amendment '
Sponsor:Floridians Protecting Freedom Inc.
Summary: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.
Florida Amendment 4 in simple terms. What are Florida's abortion laws?
2024 Florida Amendments: Amendment 5, annual adjustments to the value of certain Homestead exemptions aka 'homestead exemption amendment'
Sponsor:Florida Legislature
Summary: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.
2024 Florida Amendments: Amendment 6, repeal of public campaign financing requirement aka 'cleaner elections amendment'
Sponsor:Florida Legislature
Summary: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.
2024 Florida Amendments explained
Below is a video segment that further explains each proposed amendment and offers political expertise from USA TODAY Network-Florida journalists: John Torres, engagement editor at FLORIDA TODAY, political reporter John Kennedy, based at the (Sarasota) Herald-Tribune, and political reporter James Call, based at the Tallahassee Democrat
Contributing: C.A. Bridges, USA TODAY Network-Florida
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida Amendments 2024 explained: Abortion, marijuana, fishing on ballot
