Only US citizens, permanent residents should be allowed to vote: Florida’s Nov. ballot amendments explained

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These are the opinions of BizPac, the political action committee, which is a separate legal entity and not the opinions of BizPacReview, Inc.

Here are brief descriptions of ballot Amendments 1, 4, 5 and 6 on Florida’s November ballot, and what a YES or No vote would mean:

(A tip of the hat to the James Madison Institute and their analysts, who performed research on these amendments.)

Amendment 1

Ballot language: “This amendment provides that only U.S. Citizens who are at least eighteen years of age, permanent residents of Florida, and registered to vote… shall be qualified to vote in a Florida election.”

Voting YES means limiting voting in Florida elections to only U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old, permanent Florida residents and registered to vote in the state. It provides clearer, more definitive language about who can and cannot vote in Florida elections.

Voting NO means keeping the current language in the Florida Constitution that every citizen of the United States who is at least 18 years old, a permanent resident of the state, and registered to vote in the state can vote. Opponents contend that neither the state nor any counties currently allow non-citizens to vote. However, some counties might allow a person who wants to vote to present identification that is not proof of citizenship.

Amendment 4

Ballot language: “Requires all proposed amendments or revisions to the State Constitution to be approved by the voters in two elections, instead of one, in order to take effect. The proposal applies the current thresholds for passage in each of the two elections.”

Voting YES means that a voter-approved amendment must be approved by voters at a second general election, to become effective. It means you contend the current process for amending Florida’s Constitution is too easy, that too many constitutional amendments pass without sufficient scrutiny and has resulted in a congested, clogged up Constitution. It would limit the number of frivolous amendments that get proposed and are ultimately passed (such as the “pregnant pigs” amendment). Two elections would allow more time for reasons to be made for and against proposed amendments.

Voting NO means that the existing system, with voter-approved amendments becoming effective after one general election, would stay in place. It recognizes that Florida already requires a super-majority 60% of voters to approve the passage of an amendment. Adding a requirement for the amendment to be placed on another ballot would not significantly change the number of amendments that ultimately get passed.

Amendment 5

Ballot language: “Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution, effective January 1, 2021, to increase, from 2 years to 3 years, the period of time during which accrued Save-Our-Homes benefits may be transferred from a prior homestead to a new homestead.”

Voting YES would extend the period in which a homeowner may transfer Save-Our-Homes benefits to a new homestead property from 2 years to 3 years. Currently, to transfer Save-Our-Homes benefits to another home, a resident must have received a homestead exemption as of January 1 of either of the previous two years. This was not the original intent of the exemption when it was passed, and therefore needs to be amended to reflect the intentions of the voters. Extending the timetable to 3 years would give ample time for homeowners to transfer their Save-Our-Homes benefits.

Voting NO would keep the current Save-Our-Homes benefits transfer period to two years. A NO would decrease the government’s collection of local property taxes by an annual $1.8 million in the next fiscal year and would eventually decrease tax revenues to governments by $10.2 million annually. Two years is an acceptable time period to move from one home to another and to transfer those homestead property savings.

Amendment 6

Ballot language: “Provides that the homestead property tax discount for certain veterans with permanent combat-related disabilities carries over to a surviving spouse…who holds title to the homestead property.”

Voting YES means that a homestead property tax discount may be transferred to the spouse of a deceased veteran, until they remarry, sell or otherwise do away with the property.

Voting NO would mean the tax discount may not be transferred to the spouse. If this amendment passes, it would potentially result in less property tax revenue to governments. This would mean less money for local governments to spend.

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