Politics

You can vote to increase Florida’s minimum wage: 9 things to know about Amendment 2

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Amendment 2, or the $15 Minimum Wage Initiative, is on the ballot in Florida as a proposed constitutional amendment.

Here are nine things to know about Amendment 2:

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1. This is not the first time the minimum wage has been on the ballot. Florida last voted on a minimum wage ballot measure in 2004. Amendment 5, which raised the state minimum wage to $6.15 per hour, was approved by 71% of voters.

2. Amendment 2, or the $15 Minimum Wage Initiative, is one of six statewide ballot measures in Florida for 2020.

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3. If Amendment 2 is approved, Florida would become the first state to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour through a ballot measure.

4. The amendment qualified for the ballot on November 8, 2019 with 770,419 signatures.

5. The measure would amend Section 24 of Article X of the Florida Constitution. You can read the section here.

6. Amendment 2 would increase the state minimum wage from $8.56 in 2020 to $15.00 in 2026. You can read the full text of the amendment here.

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7. Once the minimum wage reaches $15, future minimum wage increases will be adjusted annually for inflation starting on Sept. 30th, 2027.

8. On Dec, 19, 2019, the Florida Supreme Court ruled the amendment could be placed on the ballot for 2020. You can read the full opinion here.

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9. For Amendment 2 to pass in Florida, it must get a supermajority vote. That means it needs to be approved by 60% of those voting on the question.

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Matt Reeser

Matt Reeser, WFTV.com

Matt Reeser joined WFTV in 1998 as a news photographer and has worked for television stations in Kentucky and West Virginia.