Floridians will have the opportunity to vote on six amendments in November 2024. Here is a list of the amendments:
- Partisan Election of Members of District School--Read here
- Right to Fish and Hunt--Read here
- Adult Personal Use of Marijuana--Read here
- Amendment To Limit Government Interference with Abortion - Read more here
- Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain Homestead Exemptions - Read here
- Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement - this blog
Amendment 6 Summary
Amendment 6 will repeal Section 7, Article IV of the Florida Constitution, which provides public campaign financing for certain candidates if they agree to spending limits. Candidates for governor, elected Cabinet members, attorney general, chief financial officer, and commissioner of agriculture can apply for these funds, if they meet the following qualifications. They must:
- not be running unopposed;
- agree to expenditure limits;
- raise $150,000 (for gubernatorial candidates) or $100,000 (for cabinet candidates);
- limit loans or contributions from the candidate’s personal funds to $25,000 and limit contributions from political parties to $250,000; and
- report campaign financing data to the division of elections and submit to a post-election financial audit.
The program’s original intent was to help underfunded candidates compete with candidates supported by substantial donors to elections. Efforts to repeal the program have been madein the past but have been unsuccessful.
From the James Madison Institute:
"Constitutional Merit: This measure is not a reform that can be addressed by the State Legislature and thus requires a constitutional ballot initiative in order to be implemented."
Yes on Amendment 6
It would eliminate public financing of campaigns. Funds have been drawn from the General Revenue Fund. To provide some idea of the dollars involved:
More than $13 million in public funds went into the 2022 election. Gov. Ron DeSantis received $7,302,617 and his Democratic challenger, Charlie Crist, got $3,887,600, according to state data.
Discontinuing this funding would save taxpayer dollars and provide funding for other state projects.
No on Amendment 6
A “no” vote would maintain the public funding of election campaigns, and continue to provide a financial fairness and balance in the funding of candidates.
Convention of States
Those of us at COS encourage citizens to take seriously our right to vote. This is your chance to weigh in on how your state funds should be spent. Please take this opportunity to vote and decide whether you want to continue public funding for candidates and their campaigns or not.
