In 10 days and the week leading up to it, Americans nationwide will take to the polls to exercise their basic civic duty: voting in the 2024 general election. Aside from the biggest ticket item, the election of the next President of the United States, the most direct way of expressing opinion and impacting freedoms on the ballot this year comes from state-based constitutional amendments.
In Florida’s case, the state’s constitutional history is particularly unique, having six different constitutions over two decades. To get an amendment on a statewide ballot, the State of Florida offers the greatest number of ways to amend the constitution compared to any other state. The ways to get an amendment on the ballot are as follows:
- Joint resolution by Florida legislature
- Florida Constitution Revision Committee
- Citizens’ Initiative
- Constitutional Convention
- Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission
This year, 10 million Floridians will vote on four amendments originating in the Florida legislature and two through citizen initiatives. Each amendment requires a 60% voting majority to pass. See this year’s six Florida constitutional amendments and what your vote means below.
1. Establishing School Board Elections as Partisan
Ballot Language: “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.”
A “yes” vote on this amendment would allow school board candidates to have their political affiliations listed on a ballot, and allow parties to nominate candidates for these elections. On the other hand, a “no” vote on this amendment would maintain the current constitutional status of leaving school board members as apolitical as possible, not running under any party affiliation.
2. State Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish
Ballot Language: “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 9 of Article IV of the State Constitution.”
Voting “yes” on Amendment 2 enshrines the right to hunt and fish in any capacity in the Florida Constitution. This would override the Florida legislature’s ability to create laws restricting various forms of fishing and hunting. Voting “no” maintains the current provisions of the Constitution, where the legislature can more easily place restrictions on hunting and fishing activities, typically part of efforts to conserve wildlife species or areas.
3. Use of Recreational Marijuana
Ballot Language: “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.”
A “yes” vote on this amendment legalizes the recreational and nonmedical consumption of marijuana in the State of Florida above the age of 21, requiring a state license for the private sale and consumption. Voting “no” maintains the current law in the state, only allowing marijuana consumption for medical purposes.
4. Right to Abortion
Ballot Language: “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.”
Voting “yes” on Amendment 4 legalizes the right to abortion in the State of Florida before the period of fetal viability, or when a healthcare provider deems it necessary for the health and safety of the mother. In the case of minors, it would maintain the constitutional authority to require a mother to notify their parent or guardian before having an abortion. A vote for “no” would keep the current Florida Constitution’s provision of abortion being legal only within six weeks of pregnancy.
5. Homestead Exemption Inflation Adjusting
Ballot Language: “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.”
Voting “yes” on this amendment adds an inflation adjustment to the homestead tax exemption currently in place in Florida, indexing assessments to the percent change in the Consumer Price Index. Voting “no,” retains the current tax exemption, regardless of the inflation rate. If inflation goes up, taxes will rise in tandem.
6. Repealing Public Campaign Financing
Ballot Language: “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.”
Voting “yes” repeals the rule of the Constitution guaranteeing public funds for campaigns to statewide offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture). Voting “no” maintains the current provision of general public funds for statewide election campaigns.
