Florida officials refer seven amendments to the 2012 ballot
May 9, 2011
TALLAHASSEE, Florida: The Florida legislature has closed it's doors on 2011's official legislative session. The session began March 8 and ended on Friday, May 6. An estimated 15 ballot measure proposals were made by officials; seven were referred to the statewide ballot. Remaining proposals may be reconsidered during the 2012 legislative session.
Although the ballot may change prior to the election, currently a total of seven measures have been certified for the 2012 statewide ballot. Topics addressed by these measures include: judicial reform, taxes, state budgets, health care, abortion, and religion.
All seven measures are listed below: November 6, 2012
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 10 | Taxes; Property | Provide a tangible personal property exemption on ad valorem taxes and allow counties and municipalities to establish tangible personal property tax exemptions |
|
3,432,905 (45%) |
4,113,395 (55%) |
|
| Amendment 11 | Taxes | Allow municipalities and counties to create additional homestead tax exemptions for low-income people above the age of 65 who meet certain requirements |
|
4,717,827 (61%) |
2,984,270 (39%) |
|
| Amendment 12 | Higher education governance | Have the chair of the council of state university student body presidents replace the president of the Florida Student Association as the student member of the Board of Governors of the State University System |
|
3,060,425 (42%) |
4,306,068 (58%) |
|
| Amendment 1 | Private health insurance; Public health insurance | Prohibit compulsory health insurance and permit the direct payment of health care expenses |
|
3,632,315 (49%) |
3,856,608 (51%) |
|
| Amendment 2 | Taxes; Property; Veterans | Expand the availability of the homestead property tax discount for veterans injured in combat |
|
4,907,341 (63%) |
2,850,880 (37%) |
|
| Amendment 3 | Education; Budgets | Increase the state's revenue limitation and require excess funds be deposited into a budget stabilization fund until the fund hits its maximum, at which time the money first be spent on public education and then additional excess funds be returned to the taxpayers |
|
3,204,350 (42%) |
4,346,740 (58%) |
|
| Amendment 4 | Taxes; Property | Amend the calculations for property assessments and allow for the establishment of an additional homestead tax exemption |
|
3,244,138 (43%) |
4,268,467 (57%) |
|
| Amendment 5 | Judiciary | Amend the state constitution relative to the changing of court rules, require senatorial approval of state Supreme Court justice appointments, and change the process for judicial impeachments |
|
2,728,008 (37%) |
4,654,167 (63%) |
|
| Amendment 6 | Abortion | Prohibit the use of public funds for abortions or health insurance that includes coverage of abortion, with exceptions |
|
3,511,354 (45%) |
4,308,408 (55%) |
|
| Amendment 8 | Religion | Prohibit denials of governmental support on the basis of religious beliefs and allow the use of revenue from the public treasury to fund religious institutions |
|
3,441,128 (45%) |
4,286,376 (55%) |
|
| Amendment 9 | Law enforcement; Taxes; Veterans | Allow for a ad valorem homestead property tax exemption for surviving spouses of those killed in their work as a first responder or in the military |
|
4,747,536 (62%) |
2,950,083 (38%) |
See also
|
Additional reading
- Associated Press, "Measures that passed in Fla.'s legislative session," May 7, 2011 (dead link)
- The Herald Tribune, "Legislature passes 7 ballot items for 2012," May 6, 2011
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