Florida general election: 9 things to know about Amendment 4

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.

Why do backers think this is a good idea while those opposed fear the ramifications? Channel 9 compiled nine things you need to know about the amendment before you case your vote:

READ: 9 things to know about registering to vote in Florida

1. The amendment is sponsored by Keep Our Constitution Clean PC, which lists its mission on its website as “To preserve Florida’s constitution for future generations by educating voters on the impact of various constitutional initiative petitions and, secondarily, protecting professional canvassers from unscrupulous and illegal practices.”
2. According to current law, all amendments need 60% of the vote to pass and they only have to pass once to take effect. This amendment, if it passes, would require Floridians to vote and approve each amendment in two separate elections before it takes effect.
3. The League of Women Voters of Florida has spoken out in opposition to the amendment. “No. 4 does nothing but add more time, expense and burden to Florida voters trying to participate in their democracy!” the organization says on its website.
4. The Florida Chamber of Commerce, according to the election guide on its website, is supporting Amendment 4.
5. According to Florida campaign finance records, all of the $9 million that has been put toward backing the amendment has been contributed by Keep Our Constitution Clean Inc.
6. Keep Our Constitution Clean Inc. is run by Jason Haber and Jason Blank, both of Fort Lauderdale, and Matthew Meyers of Miami, according to Florida business records.
7. According to Ballotpedia.org, Nevada is the only state in the U.S. where voters must approve a constitutional amendment in two separate elections before it goes into effect.
8. The state estimates that the amendment, if it passes, would result in additional state and local government costs to conduct elections. “Overall, these costs will vary from election cycle to election cycle depending on the unique circumstances of each ballot and cannot be estimated at this time,” records show.
9. Officials estimate that if the proposed amendment had been in place for the 2018 election, when eleven of twelve amendments passed, the additional cost to the 2020 election would have been approximately $1 million.

You can read the proposed amendment in full by clicking here.

Click here for Channel 9′s complete voter’s guide for the 2020 election.

As election day approaches, presidential campaigns adjust their ad messaging With less than seven weeks until election day the spending to win Florida is accelerating. (WFTV)

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