TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A proposed constitutional amendment aimed at making it harder to expand gambling in Florida continues to move closer to the 2018 ballot.
The political committee Voters In Charge had submitted 523,522 valid petition signatures to the state as of mid-day Friday, according to the Florida Division of Elections website. The committee needs to submit a total of 766,200 signatures to get on the November ballot, but the total submitted has steadily climbed in recent weeks.
The proposal would change the Florida Constitution and give voters the "exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling."
It would require voter approval of casino-style games in the future. Meanwhile, signatures also continue to pile up for another proposed constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights for all nonviolent felons who have served their sentences, completed parole or probation and paid restitution.
Floridians for a Fair Democracy, a political committee spearheading the proposal, had submitted 490,811 valid petition signatures to the state as of Friday.
The proposed constitutional amendment would not apply to felons convicted of violent crimes, such as murder.