There’s typically significant drop-off in votes cast on the first page of ballots versus the third or fourth. Here’s more information on what you’re voting on when you get to the later pages and how to learn more about the candidates.
Soil and water conservation district supervisors
Across Central Florida’s counties, voters will be choosing their district supervisors for their county Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
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To learn more about what the Soil and Water Conservation District is doing in your community, click on your county name:
Information about judges can be found using in-depth voter guides provided by non-profit organization We.thePeople. Click here for their comprehensive information about the candidates in each race on your ballot and where they stand on the issue. Their voter guides include smaller local elections.
Statewide amendments
Our team of reporters have done in-depth stories on some of the five proposed amendments to the state constitution.
Amendment 1 requires “only” U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years of age, permanent residents of Florida and registered to vote shall be qualified to vote in a Florida election. This amendment would not change anything about the current qualification requirements to vote in Florida. The current state constitution currently states the exact same sentence in the proposed amendment language, substituting “every” for “only."
The ACLU argues this amendment could lead to the enactment of “unnecessary and burdensome voting restrictions”, such as requiring a birth certificate or passport to register and vote.
Florida Citizen Voters, which has financially backed the campaign says the current language is inclusive and says who can vote, but not who can’t. The organization has supported similar measures in Alabama an Colorado.
Amendment 2 states that, if passed, Florida’s minimum wage will increase from $8.56 to $10 next September, and $1 more every September after that until we get to $15 in 2026.
If Amendment 3 passes in the general election next month, it will change the way Florida holds its primary elections.
Florida’s primary election for state legislators would change from a closed election to a top-two open primary.
READ: 9 things to know if you plan to vote by mail in Florida
Currently, primaries are closed. This means a voter must be registered with a political party in order to participate in that party’s primary election. After that, winners of the partisan primary elections advance to the general election.
If Amendment 4 passes during the 2020 general election, all following proposed amendments to the Florida constitution would have to be approved by voters in two elections, not just one.
Amendment 5 states, proposes to increase the period of time during which accrued Save-Our-Homes benefits may be transferred from a prior homestead to a new homestead, from two to three years. The previous 1992 amendment allows homestead property owners to port, or transfer, the accumulated difference between assessed value and the just/market value to another property within two tax years.
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Orange County voters will also get to answer three questions about amending the county charter. Two of the three pertain to environmental protections for waterways and forests. On pages 21, 25 and 29, you can find detailed analysis of each proposed amendment. Read more here.
Cox Media Group
