2020 Florida Constitutional Amendment Series – What’s being considered
Bottom Line: There are two proposed constitutional amendments that have already ensured they’ll be on our ballots in 2020. Amendment 1, Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections and Amendment 2, Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage. In a separate story today, I’ve addressed those two. It’s likely we’ll see many more make our ballots before all is said and done, however. These are those currently closest to becoming eligible having cleared at least one major hurdle for possible inclusion. These are them:
- Two Marijuana Legalization Initiatives: Legalizes possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by residents 21 years of age and older & Legalizes the personal use of marijuana and allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers to sell marijuana for personal use
- Changes to Energy Market Initiative: Requires the Florida Legislature to adopt laws providing for changes to energy markets
- Ban on Semiautomatic Rifles and Shotguns Initiative: Bans possession of semiautomatic rifles and shotguns (defined)
- Top-Two Open Primary for State Office Initiative: Establishes a top-two open primary system for state office primary elections
- Double Election Requirement for Constitutional Amendments Initiative: Requires voter-approved constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at a second general election
Additionally, there are thirteen others that haven’t cleared a major threshold yet and six that have been proposed in the upcoming state session. That’s a total of 27 in the works, six that are pacing towards possible inclusion and two that have made it. We’ve averaged about eight proposed constitutional amendments on ballots over the past ten cycles. Expect 2020 to produce at least that many. To be continued...