VOTE 2018 FLORIDA

Florida 2018 Ballot Measures

Posted on by John Stuart Edwards

Twelve statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in Florida in 2018. All but one measure, Amendment 1, were approved.

AMENDMENTS

RESULTSUBJECTDESCRIPTIONOBJECTIVE
1NOTaxesIncreases the amount of a home’s value exempted from property tax. If voters approve Amendment 1, the homestead exemption for a home assessed at a value of $200,000 would be $75,000. If voters reject Amendment 1, the homestead exemption for a home assessed at a value of $200,000 would remain at $50,000.
  • More taxes
2YESTaxesAmendment 2 would make permanent the cap of 10 percent on annual non-homestead parcel assessment increases set to expire on January 1, 2019. The cap does not apply to school district. Voters approved the current temporary cap in 2008, when 64 percent voted to pass.
  • Keeps lower taxes
3YESGamblingAmendment 3 will allow the Seminole Tribe to continue to have near exclusive rights to gambling in Florida by protecting the status quo. Card games, casino games, and slot machines are prohibited at non-tribal facilities in all but two counties in Florida.
  • Gambling anti-trust issue with home state native privileges for commerce – We the People hate monopolies, don’t we?
4YESSuffrageThis amendment automatically restores the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions, except those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense, upon completion of their sentences, including prison, parole, and probation. Florida is estimated to have 1,686,318 persons—10.43 percent of the voting age population—disenfranchised due to felonies.
  • States Rights – Remember compassionate conservatism?
5YESLegislatureRequires 2/3 vote of legislature to impose or increase tax or fee
  • Very Libertarian – we like it!
6YESJudiciaryAdds a Marsy’s Law to state constitution, increases judicial retirement age to 75, and prohibits judges from deferring to administrative agencies in interpreting law
  • Gives Victims’ Families Rights & Empowers the Judiciary – It’s all good.
7YESEducationRequires death benefits for  military members, a supermajority vote for college fees, and adds state college system structure to constitution
  • Family members of the military who die in the line of duty are already compensated through the federal government and Florida is the #1 ranked state in higher education in the United States – Why mess with that?
9YESEnvironmentBans offshore oil and gas drilling and vaping in enclosed indoor workplaces
  • The ban on drilling is a no brainer, but linking that to a ban on vaping that does not make an exception for medical – Shouldn’t employers and not the government decide what can and can’t be vaped in their private work space?
10YESAdministration of GovernmentProhibits counties from abolishing certain local offices, changes start date of legislative sessions, and adds an executive office and executive department to constitution
  • This amendment will restrict the powers of local government – I don’t understand why this is important.
11YESAdministration of GovernmentRepeals the following: (a) a prohibition against aliens owning property, (b) a requirement for a high-speed ground transportation system, and (c) a provision saying that changes to a criminal statute are not retroactive
  • Too confusing
12YESGovernment AccountabilityProhibits public officials from lobbying for compensation while in office and six years thereafter (currently 2 years)
  • Increases ban on lobbying -Drain the Tallahassee swamp baby!
13YESGamblingProhibits pari-mutuel (a type of betting pool) operations from racing greyhounds or any other dogs for wagering, prohibits persons in Florida from wagering on the outcome of live dog races occurring in the state.
  • Ends dog racing – Let the marketplace determine the future of the sport as long as the animals are treated humanely.

Capitol Hellway Media Company
A Free Media Company in Naples Florida

John Stuart Edwards
Follow Us
Latest posts by John Stuart Edwards (see all)