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State Wide Ballot Initiatives
There are six state-wide initiatives that will be on the Florida ballot this year. Below is a summary of each: Amendment 1
Amend Section 2 of Article VI of the Florida Constitution to state that only citizens of the United States who are 18 years old or older are qualified electors in Florida. ▸ The Florida Constitution currently says, “Every citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen years of age and who is a permanent resident of the state, if registered as provided by law, shall be an elector of the county where registered.” ▸ Under the ballot measure, the Florida
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Constitution would say, “Only a citizen of the
United States who is at least eighteen years of age and who is a permanent resident of the state, if registered as provided by law, shall be an elector of the county where registered.” Amendment 2
Increase the state minimum wage from $8.56 in 2020 to $15.00 in 2026. Under Amendment 2, the state minimum wage would increase each year as follows: ▸ $10.00 on September 30, 2021; ▸ $11.00 on September 30, 2022; ▸ $12.00 on September 30, 2023; ▸ $13.00 on September 30, 2024; ▸ $14.00 on September 30, 2025; and ▸ $15.00 on September 30, 2026.
Beginning on September 30, 2027, there would be an annual adjustment to the state minimum wage based on increases to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Amendment 3
Change Florida’s primary elections for state legislators and state-wide elected officers from a closed primary to an open primary where the two candidates with the most votes would move on to the general election.
Currently, in Florida, primaries are closed, meaning a voter must be registered with a political party in order to participate in that party’s primary election. Winners of a partisan primary election advance to the general election.
Amendment 3 would replace closed primaries with top-two primaries in which all candidates would be placed on one ballot regardless of political affiliation and the top two candidates with the most votes would advance to the general election. A candidate’s party affiliation may appear on the ballot as provided by law. The primaries would also be open, meaning any registered voter, regardless of their political affiliation, could vote in the primary election.
Under Amendment 3, in cases where only two candidates qualify for the primary election, the primary would be canceled and the election winner would be decided in the general election. Amendment 4
Require constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at two successive general elections to become effective. In Florida, constitutional amendments require a 60% supermajority vote to become effective. Under Amendment 4, the supermajority requirement would apply to both elections. Amendment 5
This amendment would extend the period during which a person may transfer “Save Our Homes” benefits to a new homestead property from two years to three years. Currently, if a person moves to a new home, they have two years to transfer their “Save Our Homes” benefit to have the new home assessed “at less than just value.”
The Florida Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) determined that approval of the amendment would reduce local property taxes by $1.8 million beginning in fiscal year 2021-22 and would eventually grow to a $10.2 million reduction annually. Amendment 6
Allow a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran. The discount would be in effect until the spouse remarries, sells, or otherwise disposes of the property. If the spouse sells the property and does not remarry, the spouse’s new primary residence may receive a homestead tax discount not exceeding the dollar amount from the most recent ad valorem tax
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