Understanding Florida's constitutional amendment questions on November ballot

Glenna Milberg breaks down what yes, no vote means

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Local 10 News reporter Glenna Milberg breaks down each of Florida's 12 constitutional amendment questions on the November ballot.

From property taxes to dog racing, Glenna explains what each question asks of the voter.

This is the first of two amendments having to do with property taxes.

Amendment 1 asks voters if they want to give more of a homestead exemption.

File: Amendment 1 Increased Homestead Property Tax Exemption ballot question

Supporters of Amendment 1 say it encourages home ownership and helps people afford to buy a new home.

Who wouldn't want a property tax deduction?

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

This is the second of two amendments related to property taxes.

Amendment 2 pertains to all other non-homesteaded properties.

File: Amendment 2 Limitations on Property Tax Assessments ballot question

These properties are limited to a 10 percent increase per year, but that cap is set to expire.

This is asking voters if they'd like to keep the cap at 10 percent.

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

Amendment 3 focuses on casino gambling throughout the state. 

This asks if any further expansion should be left for voters to decide.

File: Amendment 3 Voter Control of Gambling in Florida ballot question

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

Under Florida law, felons do not automatically get their right to vote restored.

Amendment 4 asks voters whether they want that to change.

File: Amendment 4 Voting Restoration Amendment ballot question

Currently, a felon who has completed his or her sentence must wait five years before appearing before a clemency hearing.

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

This amendment is all about money and whether to make it more difficult for Florida lawmakers to raise new taxes or fees.

Gov. Rick Scott has been a proponent of Amendment 5, which would require a two-thirds majority instead of the current simple majority.

File: Amendment 5 Supermajority Vote Required ballot question

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

This amendment would establish a victim's so-called bill of rights.

Amendment 6 asks voters whether victims should have similar or even more rights than defendants.

File: Amendment 6 Rights of Crime Victims; Judges ballot question

It also asks voters to raise the judicial retirement age from 70 to 75 and to take away the benefit of the doubt from state agencies in court.

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

This is another bundled amendment.

The first part of Amendment 7 deals with family death benefits for Florida's first responders. It asks voters to decide if the families of first responders who die in the line of duty should be eligible for death benefits.

The other part has to do with the cost of college and whether it should be more difficult for state universities to raise fees.

File: Amendment 7 First Responder and Military Member; Public Colleges ballot question

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

This is another bundled amendment, their only similarity seemingly having to do with environmental concerns.

Amendment 9 asks voters whether to ban offshore drilling from Florida's coastline. It also asks voters whether to ban vaping in indoor workplaces.

File: Amendment 9 Prohibits Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling; Prohibits Vaping ballot question

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

This amendment is a three-part question.

The first part of Amendment 10 changes the dates of Florida's legislative session. The second part places the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs within the state constitution.

It's the third part requiring all counties to have certain elected positions that is most controversial.

File: Amendment 10 State and Local Government Structure and Operation ballot question

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

This is another bundled amendment, but it has some sense to it.

Amendment 11 asks voters to clean up the state constitution.

File: Amendment 11 Property Rights; Removal of Obsolete Provisions; Criminal Statutes ballot question

It asks whether to take out a provision that prevents anyone who is not a U.S. citizen from owning land, to change the constitution to make sure that any criminal is prosecuted under current law and to remove the language about a high-speed rail amendment that has since been repealed.

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

This amendment is all about ethics, real or perceived.

Amendment 12 essentially expands the ethics rules for lobbying state governments by office holders.

File: Amendment 12 Lobbying and Abuse of Office by Public Officers ballot question

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

The final amendment has to do with gaming.

Amendment 13 simply asks voters if they want to put an end to dog racing in the state.

File: Amendment 13 Ends Dog Racing ballot question

Glenna explains the pros and cons.

All constitutional amendments require 60 percent approval from voters to pass.


About the Author

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."

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