Pictured Above: Floridians voted for six amendments during the 2020 election.
Aya Diab | The Crow’s Nest
By Michael Alden
Florida voters passed four of the six amendments to the state constitution on this year’s ballot, including a minimum wage increase for the first time since 2004.
Each amendment required 60 percent supermajority approval to pass. The results will be certified Nov. 17 by the Florida Elections Canvassing Commission.
Below are summaries of all the amendments on this year’s ballot:
Amendment 1: Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections
This amendment sought to change the language of Article VI, Section 2 of the Florida Constitution that states “every citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen years of age and who is a permanent resident of the state, if registered as provided by law, shall be an elector of the county where registered.” A “yes” vote altered the language to say “only a citizen”.
The measure passed 79 percent to 21 percent.
Amendment 2: Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage
This amendment was on the ballot to increase Florida’s minimum wage from $8.56 in 2020 to $15.00 in 2026. The wage would increase by $1 each year on Sept. 30, starting at $10 per hour in 2021.
Florida previously voted in 2004 to increase the minimum wage to $6.15, with incremental increases in the following years.
The amendment passed 61 percent to 39 percent.
Ulises Miranda, an advertising major and senior at USF’s St. Petersburg campus, commends voters for passing the increase.
“I believe that Floridians made the right choice by choosing to raise the minimum wage to 15 per hour,’ Miranda said. “I can’t wait to see how small business(es) will adapt to the change.”
Amendment 3: All Voters Vote in a Primary Elections for State Legislature, Governor and Cabinet
The amendment would change Florida’s closed primary system to a top-two open primary system in elections for governor, lieutenant governor, elected cabinet members and state legislators. In the current closed system, voters are required to be registered with a political party to vote in that party’s primaries. In a top-two system, any person would be able to vote without registering with a specific political party. The top-two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, continue on to the general election. The candidates would also be required to have their party affiliation on the ballot.
The amendment failed 57 percent to 43 percent.
Amendment 4: Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments
This amendment would require all constitutional amendments to be voted on in a second election for approval. Amendments and revisions to the state constitution would need 60 percent voter approval to pass in two general elections instead of one.
The measure failed 48 percent to 52 percent..
Some Floridians viewed the measure as overly complicated.
“I’m happy they didn’t pass it because legislation is already hard enough to achieve and getting it passed twice consecutively just sounds like a headache,” said Michael Powers, a junior advertising major at USF’s St. Petersburg campus.
Amendment 5: Limitation on Homestead Assessments
This amendment intended to extend the period an individual can transfer “Save Our Homes” tax benefits from one year to three years. Florida residents are currently allowed to transfer these tax benefits they’ve built up from one homesteaded property to the next for one year only.
The measure passed 74 percent to 26 percent.
Amendment 6: Ad Valorem Tax Discount for Spouses of Certain Deceased Veterans Who Had Permanent, Combat-Related Disabilities
This amendment would allow the homestead property tax discount given to certain deceased veterans to be transferred to their surviving spouse. The veteran must have been over the age of 65, honorably discharged, and permanently disabled by combat. The spouse can claim this discount until they sell the property, move into a new home, or remarry.
The amendment passed 90 percent to 10 percent.
