Jason Delgado
Florida voters on Tuesday decided it shouldn’t any be tougher to amend the state’s Constitution.
Constitutional amendments require at least 60% voter approval to pass. Voters, however, shot down a proposed initiative that would have forced them to think twice about it.
The initiative was called “Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments” or Amendment 4. It would have required all proposed amendments or revisions to the Florida Constitution to be approved by voters in two elections, instead of one, in order to take effect.
Amendment 4 garnered only 48% approval, with 4,842,690 yeses out of more than 10 million ballots cast.
The Keep Our Constitution Clean political committee sponsored the amendment, piling on millions of dollars in its support.
“Our goal is to ensure that voters are given the opportunity to fully understand the immediate and future impacts of any proposed changes to our state constitution,” the group said on its website.
The group also contented the amendment would have created “safeguards” from those “legislating” through the constitution.
Notably, the amendment drew flocks of opposition.
The ACLU of Florida, the League of Women Voters of Florida and multiple editorial boards across the state urged voters to shoot down the amendment. Prominent attorney John Morgan was also critical of the effort.
The Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times and The Palm Beach Post were among those opposed.
Nevada is the only state that requires ballot initiatives to pass in two consecutive elections before becoming constitutional amendments.
“It would be better labeled: ‘The Evil Empire Strikes Back,'” the Sun Sentinel editorial board wrote.
Florida voters for years have increasingly tackled issues through ballot initiatives. In recent years, the ballot initiative has legalized medical marijuana, restored the right for ex-felons to vote after they pay their fines and limited class sizes in schools.
Florida’s Constitution has been amended more than 120 times since 1970, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Amendment 4 is one of six amendments decided by voters on Tuesday.
A copy of the amendment’s language can be found online.
One comment
Florida Voice for the Unborn
November 4, 2020 at 10:49 am
The defeat of this ill-advised proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution is also good news for social conservatives, especially pro-life advocates who may wish to protect unborn children through the amendment process. Florida Voice for the Unborn’s executive director has just authored a new in-depth scholarly article, entitled, “Amending the Florida Constitution in a Post-Roe America: A Viable Option to Outlaw Abortion or an Illusory Quest?” This article was published in the Society of St. Sebastian’s Journal of Bioethics in Law & Culture (Fall 2020 edition). A link to the article can be found on Florida Voice for the Unborn’s Twitter profile (@unbornvoicefl).
Florida Voice for the Unborn is a new grassroots Tallahassee-based lobbying group that only focuses on pro-life issues impacting the unborn. It is strictly independent, and its work is guided by faith in God’s only Son, Jesus Christ. Florida Voice for the Unborn supports all peaceful efforts by elected officials and others to end abortion and save lives. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Parler @UnbornVoiceFL – and visit our website.
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