SAMPLE BALLOT
This is about what you will on election day if you vote in the local precinct.
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President
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U.S. Senate
Skip to BottomU.S. House - District 22
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State House - District 89
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State Senate - District 27
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Justice of the Supreme Court
Shall Justice R. Fred Lewis of the Supreme Court be retained in office?
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Justice of the Supreme Court
Shall Justice Peggy A. Quince of the Supreme Court be retained in office?
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Justice of the Supreme Court
Shall Justice Barbara J. Pariente of the Supreme Court be retained in office?
Skip to BottomStatewide Measures and Initiatives
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Ballot (2)
Veteran's Property Tax Discount
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTARTICLE VII, SECTION 6
ARTICLE XII, SECTION 32
VETERANS DISABLED DUE TO COMBAT INJURY; HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX DISCOUNT
Proposing an amendment to Section 6 of Article VII and the creation of Section 32 of Article XII of the State Constitution to expand the availability of the property discount on the homesteads of veterans who became disabled as the result of a combat injury to include those who were not Florida residents when they entered the military and schedule the amendment to take effect January 1, 2013.
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Ballot (3)
State Revenue Limitation
ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 1 and 19ARTICLE XII, SECTION 32
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
STATE GOVERNMENT REVENUE LIMITATION
This proposed amendment to the State Constitution replaces the existing state revenue limitation based on Florida personal income growth with a new state revenue limitation based on inflation and population changes. Under the amendment, state revenues, as defined in the amendment, collected in excess of the revenue limitation must be deposited into the budget stabilization fund until the fund reaches its maximum balance, and thereafter shall be used for the support and maintenance of public schools by reducing the minimum financial effort required from school districts for participation in a state-funded education finance program, or,if the minimum financial effort is no longer required, returned to the taxpayers. The Legislature may increase the state revenue limitation through a bill approved by a super majority vote of each house of the Legislature. The Legislature may also submit a
proposed increase in the state revenue limitation to the voters.
The Legislature must implement this proposed amendment by general law. The amendment will take effect upon approval by the electors and will first apply to the 2014-2015 state fiscal year.
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Ballot (4)
Property Tax Limitations; Property Value Decline; Reduction for Nonhomestead Assessment Increases; Delay of Scheduled Repeal
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT391 ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 4, 6
392 ARTICLE XII, SECTIONS 27, 32, 33
PROPERTY TAX LIMITATIONS; PROPERTY VALUE DECLINE; REDUCTION FOR NONHOMESTEAD ASSESSMENT INCREASES; DELAY OF SCHEDULED REPEAL
(1) This would amend Florida Constitution Article VII, Section 4 (Taxation; assessments) and Section 6 (Homestead exemptions). It also would amend Article XII, Section 27, and add Sections 32 and 33, relating to the Schedule for the amendments.
(2) In certain circumstances, the law requires the assessed value of homestead and specified nonhomestead property to increase when the just value of the property decreases. Therefore, this amendment provides that the Legislature may, by general law, provide that the assessment of homestead and specified nonhomestead property may not increase if the just value of that property is less than the just value of the property on the preceding January 1, subject to any adjustment in the assessed value due to changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to such property which are assessed as provided for by general law. This amendment takes effect upon approval by the voters. If approved at a special election held on the date of the 2012 presidential preference primary, it shall operate retroactively to January 1, 2012, or, if approved at the 2012 general election, shall take effect January 1, 2013.
(3) This amendment reduces from 10 percent to 5 percent the limitation on annual changes in assessments of nonhomestead real property. This amendment takes effect upon approval of the voters. If approved at a special election held on the date of the 2012 presidential preference primary, it shall operate retroactively to January 1, 2012, or, if approved at the 2012 general election, takes effect January 1, 2013.
(4) This amendment also authorizes general law to provide, subject to conditions specified in such law, an additional homestead exemption to every person who establishes the right to receive the homestead exemption provided in the Florida Constitution within 1 year after purchasing the homestead property and who has not owned property in the previous 3 calendar years to which the Florida homestead exemption applied. The additional homestead exemption shall apply to all levies except school district levies. The additional exemption is an amount equal to 50 percent of the homestead property's just
value on January 1 of the year the homestead is established. The additional homestead exemption may not exceed an amount equal to the median just value of all homestead property within the county where the property at issue is located for the calendar year immediately preceding January 1 of the year the homestead is established. The additional exemption shall apply for the shorter of 5 years or the year of sale of the property. The amount of the additional exemption shall be reduced in each subsequent year by an amount equal to 20 percent of the amount of the additional exemption received in the year the homestead was established or by an amount equal to the difference between
the just value of the property and the assessed value of the property determined under Article VII, Section 4(d), whichever is greater. Not more than one such exemption shall be allowed per homestead property at one time. The additional exemption applies to property purchased on or after January 1, 2011, if approved by the voters at a special election held on the date of the 2012 presidential preference primary, or to property purchased on or after January 1, 2012, if approved by the voters at the 2012 general election. The additional exemption is not available in the sixth and subsequent years after it is first
received. The amendment shall take effect upon approval by the voters. If approved at a special election held on the date of the 2012 presidential preference primary, it shall operate retroactively to January 1, 2012, or, if approved at the 2012 general election, takes effect January 1, 2013.
(5) This amendment also delays until 2023, the repeal, currently scheduled to take effect in 2019, of constitutional amendments adopted in 2008 which limit annual assessment increases for specified nonhomestead real property. This
amendment delays until 2022 the submission of an amendment
proposing the abrogation of such repeal to the voters.
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Ballot (5)
State Courts
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTARTICLE V, SECTIONS 2, 11, AND 12
JUDICIARY
Proposing a revision of the Judiciary Article of the Florida Constitution; revising standards and procedures for legislative repeal of a court rule and the Supreme Court's readoption of a rule repealed by the Legislature; providing for Senate confirmation of an appointment of a Supreme Court justice; allowing the House of Representatives to review confidential files of the Judicial Qualifications Commission under any circumstances; providing that such files shall remain confidential until the House of Representatives initiates impeachment proceedings; and making other technical, clarifying, and conforming revisions.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE V, SECTIONS 2, 11, AND 12
STATE COURTS
Proposing a revision to Article V of the State Constitution relating to the judiciary; changing the authority of the Legislature to repeal a court rule by two-thirds vote of the membership of each house to a simple majority of each house; limiting the Supreme Court's ability to readopt a rule repealed by the Legislature; requiring Senate confirmation before a justice may take office; providing that if the Senate does not act within 90 days the nominee is deemed confirmed as a justice; allowing the Senate to meet outside of regular session
without having the House of Representatives convene at the same time; deleting outdated references related to the Judicial Qualifications Commission; requiring the Judicial Qualifications Commission to provide the House of Representatives access to records; providing for confidentiality of records provided to the House of Representatives until impeachment is initiated; making conforming and technical changes.
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Ballot (6)
Prohibition on Public Funding of Abortions/Construction of Rights
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTARTICLE I, SECTION 28
PROHIBITION ON PUBLIC FUNDING OF ABORTIONS; CONSTRUCTION OF
ABORTION RIGHTS
This proposed amendment provides that public funds may not be expended for any abortion or for health-benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. This prohibition does not apply to an expenditure required by federal law, a case in which a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, or a case of rape or incest.
This proposed amendment provides that the State Constitution may not be interpreted to create broader rights to an abortion than those contained in the United States Constitution. With respect to abortion, this proposed amendment overrules court decisions which conclude that the right of privacy under Article I, Section 23 of the State Constitution is broader in scope than that of the United States Constitution.
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Ballot (8)
Religious Freedom
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTARTICLE I, SECTION 3
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution providing that no individual or entity may be denied, on the basis of religious identity or belief, governmental benefits, funding, or other support, except as required by the First Amendment to the United PL-01, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FLorida 32399-1050,Telephone (850) 414-3300 Fax (850) 487-2564 States Constitution, and deleting the prohibition against using revenues from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.
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Ballot (9)
Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouse of Military Veteran or First Responder
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTARTICLE VII, SECTION 6
ARTICLE XII, SECTION 32
HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSE OF MILITARY VETERAN OR FIRST RESPONDER
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to authorize the Legislature to provide by general law ad valorem homestead property tax relief to the surviving spouse of a military veteran who died from service- connected causes while on active duty or to the surviving spouse of a first responder who died in the line of duty. The amendment authorizes the Legislature to totally exempt or partially exempt such surviving spouse's homestead property from ad valorem taxation. The amendment defines a first responder as a law enforcement officer, a correctional officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical technician, or a paramedic. This amendment shall take effect January 1, 2013.
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Ballot (10)
Tangible Personal Property Tax Exemption
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTARTICLE VII, SECTION 3
ARTICLE XII, SECTION 32
TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to:
(1) Provide an exemption from ad valorem taxes levied by counties, municipalities, school districts, and other local governments on tangible personal property if the assessed value of an owner's tangible personal property is greater than $25,000 but less than $50,000. This new exemption, if approved by the voters, will take effect on January 1, 2013, and apply to the 2013 tax roll and subsequent tax rolls.
(2) Authorize a county or municipality for the purpose of its respective levy, and as provided by general law, to provide tangible personal property tax exemptions by ordinance. This is in addition to other statewide tangible personal property tax exemptions provided by the Constitution and this amendment.
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Ballot (11)
Additional Homestead Exemption; Low-Income Seniors Who Maintain Long-Term Residency on Property; Equal to Assessed Value
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTARTICLE VII, SECTION 6
ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION; LOW-INCOME SENIORS WHO MAINTAIN LONG-TERM RESIDENCY ON PROPERTY; EQUAL TO ASSESSED VALUE
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to authorize the Legislature, by general law and subject to conditions set forth in the general law, to allow counties and municipalities to grant an additional homestead tax exemption equal to the assessed value of homestead property if the property has a just value less than $250,000 to an owner who has maintained permanent residency on the property for not less than 25 years, who has attained age 65, and who has a low household income as defined by general law.
