JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Election Day is right around the corner, and there are six amendments on the ballot that can potentially change the state constitution.
Some are more controversial than others. And sometimes the language on the ballot can be confusing when trying to decide yes or no on an amendment.
Two of the most controversial ballot measures Florida voters will decide on include Amendment 3 and Amendment 4. Both ballot measures were placed on the ballot through petition signatures.
Amendment 3
Amendment 3 would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years of age and older if it passes.
Chris Hand is a government law attorney and author who served as Press Secretary for US Senator and former Florida Governor Bob Graham. He says this ballot initiative is following in the steps of other states who have legalized marijuana for recreational use.
“This would adopt that same policy here in the state of Florida, as we know, medical marijuana is already legal in Florida pursuant to a state constitutional change from several years ago, this would expand it to include, again, small amounts of recreational marijuana that would not require a doctor’s prescription,” said Hand.
Daniel Cronrath, a political science professor at Florida State College at Jacksonville explains the difference between a ‘yes’ and ‘no’ vote for Amendment 3.
" A ‘yes’ vote on Amendment 3 is a vote to legalize marijuana for recreational use in the state of Florida,” said Cronrath. “A ‘no’ vote would be to keep the law as existing, allowing individuals with medical cards to go in and be able to purchase marijuana at dispensaries. But in terms of recreational use, marijuana would remain a drug which was illegal in Florida.”
Amendment 4
Amendment 4, will let voters decide on a woman’s right to an abortion.
Cronrath explains what Amendment 4 is aiming to do.
“Easily the most controversial of our ballot amendments in this election cycle, Amendment 4 would allow a woman to seek an abortion prior to what the medical community would call viability of the child, or viability of the fetus,” Cronrath explained. “The American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have said that that is a 24-week window before a child is actually has more than a 50/50 chance of living if it is to be brought out of the womb at that point within the pregnancy.”
Hand explains what a ‘yes’ vote and a ‘no’ vote would mean for Amendment 4.
“A ‘yes’ vote would protect, would put into the Florida constitution a right protecting reproductive choice up to the point of viability, and you know, at other times, if the health of the mother were to be affected,” said Hand. “A ‘no’ vote would not put that right into the Constitution. And the practical effect would be Florida’s current six week abortion ban would remain the law of Florida.”
Amendment 1
Amendment 1 is asking voters if they want to reverse a decision made by voters back in 1998 that made school board elections non-partisan. Hand says unlike Amendment 3 and 4, the legislature voted to put this measure on the ballot.
He explains what a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote would mean for this ballot measure.
“‘Yes’ would mean that school board races would become partisan again, starting in 2026 candidates would have to run as Democrats, Republicans, other parties or no party affiliation candidates,” Hand told News4Jax. “A ‘no’ vote would keep the system the way it is now, where school boards are nonpartisan. People run for those offices in a nonpartisan way, without any party affiliation on the ballot.”
Amendment 2
Amendment 2 allows voters to decide on the right to hunt and fish, it also relates it to managing the population of fish and wildlife.
Cronrath says if this amendment passes, the legislature would not have the ability to impose restrictions on people’s ability to fish or hunt.
“Amendment 2 would amend the Florida constitution to give somebody a constitutional right to fish and hunt,” said Cronrath. “Now, under Florida Statute, everyone already has a right to fish and hunt, however, in the minds of its supporters, this would remove any ambiguity.”
But there are concerns from environmental groups.
“Some environmental groups have come out against Amendment 2 because they’re afraid of the language that says things like “the use of traditional hunting methods,” many hunting methods we’ve actually gotten rid of under Florida statute because they were considered to be cruel and unusual to the animal,” Cronrath explained.
Cronrath explains the difference between a ‘yes’ vote and a ‘no’ vote on Amendment 2.
“A ‘yes’ vote to amend it means that you want to amend the Florida constitution to constitutionally recognize everyone’s right to hunt and fish. A ‘no’ vote, you would be just allowing Florida Statute, as it presently is written, to stand, which effectively does the same thing,” said Cronrath.
Amendment 5
Amendment 5 would add language to the constitution to adjust the value of homestead exemptions, tying the changes to inflation. Hand explains the two sides of this amendment.
“Proponents of the campaign have said that that’s important, because the cost of housing has continued to go up in Florida, and it’s important that people’s purchasing power not be eroded by inflation, so providing that indexing to inflation, tying the homestead exemption to inflation eases the tax burden on Floridians and helps them sort of keep up with rising prices,” said Hand. “Opponents of this have said that it could have a very significant impact on local and local government, city governments, county governments, that it would significantly reduce revenues, and that reduction in revenue could affect other public services that local governments provide.”
Hand explains the difference between a ‘yes’ and a ‘no’ vote for Amendment 5.
“A ‘yes’ vote would index the first $25,000 of your homestead exemption from property taxes, would index that to inflation. So as inflation goes up, that homestead exemption would go up as well. It wouldn’t stay at $25,000 forever. It might increase. As you know, costs and prices go up,” Hand explained. “A ‘no’ vote would maintain that flat $25,000 amount going forward.”
Amendment 6
Amendment 6 is asking voters if they want to repeal a portion of the state constitution regarding public financing for statewide campaigns. The public campaign finance matching funds program has been in effect since 1998.
Cronrath explains the history behind this amendment.
“We the people said that we wanted to provide public matching funds for certain statewide offices, and that there would be a certain amount of money made available,” said Cronrath. “It was a way of creating competitiveness for candidates who weren’t necessarily wealthy.”
Hand explains what a ‘yes’ vote and a ‘no’ vote would mean for Amendment 6.
“A ‘yes’ vote would mean that that system of public financing would go away. Florida would no longer provide matching funds to candidates for the statewide offices. In each of the past elections, 2022, 2018, 2014, dating back to 2000 to the first year this amendment was in effect, those candidates from statewide office have, for the most part, accepted these matching funds, so it would be a significant change from that.” said Hand.
“A ‘no’ vote means the system stays in place as it is,” Hand explained. “And candidates who are running for statewide office in 2026 when we will elect a new Governor, a new Attorney General, a new Chief Financial Officer, there’ll also be a race for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Candidates who run for those offices would be eligible to use the matching fund system if this amendment is defeated.”
It takes 60% of the vote for any amendment to be added to the Florida constitution. For more information about what races you’ll see on your ballot including those amendments, you can find that in our News4Jax Voter’s Guide.
Early voting starts on Monday, Oct. 21. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.