Public policy in Florida
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The Public Policy Project on Ballotpedia aims to illuminate major policy issues being discussed and implemented throughout the United States. Public policy can be complicated and controversial; deciding what works best and how to allocate resources to achieve a policy goal can involve multiple trade-offs. Much of the public policy that affects citizens economically, legally and socially, is made at the state level. Below you will find links and introductions to all the Florida public policy articles on Ballotpedia. To see the policy overview of another state click on the map below.
- For a list of all public policy articles on Ballotpedia see here.
Budget Policy
Budget and finances
In Florida, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in part to manage the state's finances. This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicing state debt). State budgets are complex and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planned expenditures, which may alter over the course of a fiscal year. If revenues do not keep pace with expenditures, states generally have to raise taxes, cut services, borrow money, or a combination of the three. State budget decisions are also influenced by policy decisions at the national level, such as the Affordable Care Act or energy and environmental regulations, and issues at the local level, such as crime and the quality of education.
Taxes
Florida generates the bulk of its tax revenue by levying a general sales tax and select sales taxes (otherwise known as excise taxes). The state derives its constitutional authority to tax from Article VII of the state constitution.[2][3]
Tax policy can vary from state to state. States levy taxes to help fund the variety of services provided by state governments. Tax collections comprise approximately 40 percent of the states' total revenues. The rest comes from non-tax sources, such as intergovernmental aid (e.g., federal funds), lottery revenues and fees. The primary types of taxes levied by state governments include personal income tax, general sales tax, excise (or special sales) taxes and corporate income tax.[4]
Civil Liberties Policy
Affirmative action
Affirmative action in Florida refers to the steps taken by employers and universities in Florida to increase the proportions of historically disadvantaged minority groups at those institutions. Historically, affirmative action nationwide has taken many different forms, such as strict quotas, extra outreach efforts, and racial and gender preferences. However, racial quotas in university admissions were banned in a 1978 United States Supreme Court case, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.[5]
On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court reversed lower court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, effectively ending the use of affirmative action in college admissions.
Many universities across the country consider race in admissions; however, this practice has been banned in eight states. Meanwhile, 28 states require affirmative action plans in either public employment or apprenticeships. Affirmative action programs that grant racial preferences have come under scrutiny in the courts for potentially violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.[6][7]
The effects of affirmative action policies are contested. Proponents argue that affirmative action diversifies selective institutions and provides more opportunities to minorities. Opponents argue that implementing policies that favor some groups requires discrimination against others and that these policiesmay harm individuals they are meant to help.
Campaign finance
Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates and campaigns may receive from individuals and organizations, how they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political parties may contribute to campaigns. In addition to direct campaign contributions, campaign finance laws also apply to third-party organizations and nonprofit organizations that seek to influence elections through independent expenditures or issue advocacy.
This page provides background on campaign finance regulation, lists contribution limits to state candidates and ballot measures in Florida, compares contribution limits to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates in Florida with those from other states, and details the candidate reporting requirements in Florida.
The information on this page pertains to candidates for state office and state ballot measures. Candidates for federal office are subject to federal campaign finance law. Candidates for local office are subject to all applicable state laws as well as any separate local campaign finance regulations.[8]
Background
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign election laws. The FEC is responsible for disclosing campaign finance information, enforcing limits and prohibitions on contributions and overseeing public funding of presidential elections.[9] According to the FEC, an individual becomes a federal candidate and must begin reporting campaign finances once he or she has either raised or spent $5,000 in his or her campaign. Within fifteen days of this benchmark, the candidate must register with the FEC and designate an official campaign committee, which is responsible for the funds and expenditures of the campaign. This committee must have an official treasurer and cannot support any candidate but the one who registered it. Detailed financial reports are then made to the FEC every financial quarter after the individual is registered. Reports are also made before primaries and before the general election.[10]
The rules governing federal election campaigns and contributions have evolved over the past generation as result of a number of Supreme Court decisions. In the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited. The court's decision also overturned the ban on for-profit and not-for-profit corporations and unions broadcasting electioneering communications in the 30 days before a presidential primary and in the 60 days before a general election.[11] In the SpeechNOW.org v. Federal Election Commission decision, the first application of the Citizens United decision, the court held that contribution limits on what individuals could give to independent expenditure-only groups, and the amount these organizations could receive, were unconstitutional. Contribution limits on donations directly to candidates, however, remained unchanged.[12][13] In 2014's McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court overturned biennial aggregate campaign contribution limits, and held that individuals may contribute to as many federal candidates as they want, but may only contribute up to the federal limit in each case.[14]
While the FEC governs federal election campaigns and contribution limits, individual states require their own level of regulation and reporting. The amount of regulation required differs by state, as do the limits on campaign contributions and third-party activities to influence elections. Candidates for local office must follow any applicable state and local campaign finance regulations.
Contribution limits
The table below details contribution limits as they applied to various types of individuals and groups in Florida as of 2024. The uppermost row of the table indicates the contributor, while the leftmost column indicates the recipient.[15]
| Individuals | Political committee (PAC) | Political Party | Super PACs | Corporations | Unions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide Candidate (incl. Governor) | $3,000 | $3,000 | $250,000 | $0 | $3,000 | $3,000 | |||
| Senate | $1,000 | $1,000 | $50,000 | $0 | $1,000 | $1,000 | |||
| Assembly | $1,000 | $1,000 | $50,000 | $0 | $1,000 | $1,000 | |||
| Political committee | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0 | Unlimited | Unlimited | |||
| Party committees | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0 | Unlimited | Unlimited | |||
| Ballot measures | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0 | Unlimited | Unlimited | |||
| Limits apply per election. | |||||||||
| Source: Florida Division of Elections, "Candidate & Campaign Treasurer Handbook (2024 Election Cycle)," accessed July 12, 2025 | |||||||||
State comparisons in the 2024 elections
Candidate reporting requirements
See statutes: Chapter 106 of the Florida Statutes
The campaign finance reporting process for candidates seeking state office in Florida is outlined below. Candidates seeking federal office must file with the Federal Election Commission. Reporting details for federal candidates are not included in this section.
Getting started
Before a candidate can qualify for office, accept contributions or make expenditures, he or she must designate a campaign treasurer and campaign depository. To do this, the candidate must file an Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository form with the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections. On this form, the candidate must indicate which office he or she is seeking. However, the candidate may later change the office sought as long as he or she notifies the Division of Elections and offers to return pro rata any contributions received for the original office sought.[17][18]
Within 10 days of filing the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository form, the candidate must file a statement with the Division of Elections indicating that he or she has read and understands the rules and requirements for campaign finance reporting.[19]
Campaign treasurers
No contributions or expenditures, including personal funds used by the candidate, may be accepted or made for the campaign unless those funds have been processed by the candidate's appointed campaign treasurer. A candidate may appoint himself or herself as treasurer and may also appoint a number of deputy treasurers to help with the reporting process. Deputy treasurers are permitted to do everything a campaign treasurer can, as long as they have been authorized to do so by the campaign treasurer and the candidate. A candidate for statewide office may have as many as 15 deputy treasurers. Any other candidate may have no more than three. The names and addresses of the campaign treasurer and any deputy treasurers must be filed with the Division of Elections.[17]
The campaign treasurer is responsible for receiving and reporting all contributions, but before doing so, he or she must file a written letter of acceptance of the position with the Division of Elections. Any appointed deputy treasurer must also file a letter of acceptance.[17]
In case of the death, resignation, or removal of a campaign treasurer, the candidate must appoint and certify a successor with the Division of Elections. No resignation of a campaign treasurer will be considered effective until written notice has been given to the candidate and a copy has been filed with the Division of Elections. The same is true for the removal of a campaign treasurer. Such removal will not be considered effective until written notice has been given to the campaign treasurer and a copy filed with the Division of Elections.[17]
Campaign depositories
In addition to the campaign depository named in the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository form, a candidate may also designate one secondary depository in each county in which an election is held involving the office sought by the candidate. A secondary depository must be used for the sole purpose of forwarding funds to the primary depository. Any bank, savings and loan association or credit union authorized to transact business in Florida may be designated as a campaign depository. The candidate must file the name and address of all depositories with the Division of Elections.[17]
The campaign treasurer may deposit any funds in the primary depository that are not currently being used into a separate interest-bearing account or certificate of deposit in any bank, savings and loan association or credit union authorized to transact business in the state. Such an account must be kept separate from any personal accounts, and any withdrawal of the funds in the account, whether principal or interest, must be deposited back into the primary depository for the campaign and must be reported as a contribution.[17]
Reporting
All campaign finance reports must be filed through the Division of Elections Electronic Filing System (EFS), which can be accessed here.[20]
Funds received by the campaign treasurer must be deposited in one of the designated campaign depositories within five business days of receipt. The treasurer must keep recorded accounts of all contributions and expenditures related to the campaign current within two days of any changes. All campaign accounts may be inspected under reasonable circumstances before, during or after the election by any authorized representative of the Division of Elections. Accounts kept by the campaign treasurer must be kept for a number of years equal to the term of the office sought by the candidate.[21][22]
In addition to keeping current accounts of campaign finances, campaign treasurers must file regular reports with the Division of Elections. For details on these reports, see the table below.[23][18]
| Report | Filed by | Covers | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterly Reports | All candidates | All financial transactions related to the campaign during each calendar quarter starting from the time the candidate registers | 10th day of the quarter following the calendar quarter covered in the report, unless that day falls on a weekend or holiday, then the next business day |
| Biweekly Reports | Non-statewide candidates | All financial transactions related to the campaign starting on the 60th day before the primary and continuing until the Friday before the general election | Every other Friday |
| Weekly Reports | Statewide candidates | All financial transactions related to the campaign starting on the 60th day before the primary and continuing until the Friday before the general election | Every Friday |
| 25th Day Reports | Non-statewide candidates | Any financial transactions related to the campaign between the last filed report and the 25th day before a primary or general election | 25th day before a primary or general election |
| 11th Day Reports | Non-statewide candidates | Any financial transactions related to the campaign between the last filed report and the 11th day before a primary or general election | 11th day before a primary or general election |
| Daily Reports | Statewide candidates | Any financial transactions related to the campaign occurring each day, starting the 10th day preceding the general election through the 5th day preceding it | The 10th, 9th, 8th, 7th, 6th and 5th days before the general election |
All reports are due by midnight of the due date.[20]
The following must be included for each reporting period:[23]
- the name, address and occupation of each person who has made one or more contributions, with the amount and date of each contribution; if the person is a corporation, a description of the principal type of business conducted by the corporation must also be reported
- the name and address of any political committee that transferred funds to or from the candidate, with the amounts and dates of all transfers
- the name, address, occupation and principal place of business of any lenders or endorsers of loans to or from the campaign, with the date and amount of such loans
- a statement of each contribution, rebate, refund, or other receipt not otherwise listed
- sum of all loans, in-kind contributions and other receipts for the campaign
- the name and address of each person to whom expenditures were made, including personal services, salaries and reimbursements, with the amount, date and purpose of each expenditure; expenditures made from the petty cash fund do not need to be reported individually
- total amount withdrawn and spent for petty cash purposes
- sum of all expenditures made
- amount and nature of any debts and obligations owed
- transaction information for each credit card purchase
- amount and nature of any separate interest-bearing accounts or certificates of deposit and identification of the financial institution in which such accounts or certificates of deposit are located
- the primary purposes of an expenditure made indirectly through a campaign treasurer pursuant to s. 106.021(3) for goods and services
The candidate and campaign treasurer are responsible for the correctness of each report and must together attest to the correctness of the report upon filing.[23]
If no funds have been received or spent during a reporting period, the report for that period does not have to be filed. The campaign treasurer must notify the Division of Elections in writing that no report will be filed and must indicate on the next filed report that it covers the entire period between the last filed report and the one being filed.[23]
Fines
Reports not filed by the due date are subject to fines, as detailed in the table below.[23]
| Number of days late | Amount of fine |
|---|---|
| One to three | $50 per day late |
| Four or more | $500 per day late, not to exceed 25 percent of the total receipts or expenditures covered by that report, whichever is greater |
| Any number of days late for reports due immediately preceding a primary or general election | $500 per day late, not to exceed 25 percent of the total receipts or expenditures covered by that report, whichever is greater |
Fines must be paid to the Division of Elections within 20 days of receiving notice of the payment due.[23]
Disposing of funds
A candidate who withdraws his or her candidacy, becomes unopposed, is eliminated in an election or elected to office can no longer accept contributions and must dispose of all campaign funds within 90 days. If the candidate filed an Undue Burden Oath to waive the signature verification fee for filing petitions, that fee must be paid first from excess funds. Remaining funds can be disposed of in any of the following ways:[24]
- The candidate may be reimbursed for personal funds added to the campaign fund.
- Funds may be returned to contributors, pro rata.
- Funds may be donated to charitable or tax-exempt organizations.
- Up to $25,000 may be given to the political party of which the candidate is a member.
- Funds may be given to the state to be deposited in either the Election Campaign Financing Trust Fund or the General Revenue Fund, as designated by the candidate, or to the general fund of a political subdivision.
Candidates elected to office may also dispense campaign funds by transferring a certain amount of the funds to an office fund. The amount of funds allowed to be transferred depends on the office sought.[24]
- Statewide candidates may transfer up to $50,000 (governor and lieutenant governor are considered separate offices in this case).
- Multi-county offices may transfer up to $10,000.
- State legislative office may transfer up to $10,000 multiplied by the number of years of the term of office.
A candidate elected to office may also maintain up to $20,000 in his or her campaign account for the purpose of re-election. However, if he or she does not qualify to run for re-election, those funds must be disposed of within 90 days.[24]
Once funds have been disposed of, the candidate must file a report, signed by both the candidate and campaign treasurer, detailing the following:[24]
- the name and address of any person or unit of government to whom funds were distributed, as well as the amount of funds distributed
- the name and address of each person to whom an expenditure was made, with the amount and purpose of the expenditure
- the name and address of the bank, savings and loan association or credit union in which funds were transferred to an office account, as well as the amount transferred
- the name and address of the bank, savings and loan association or credit union in which funds were retained for future campaigns for the same office, as well as the amount retained.
Campaign finance legislation
The table below displays bills related to campaign finance introduced during or carried over to Florida's current legislative session.[25]
Election and campaign ballot measures
Ballotpedia has tracked 24 statewide ballot measures relating to elections and campaigns.
- Florida Amendment 2, Economic Impact Statements for Initiatives Amendment (2002)
- Florida Amendment 2, Requirements for Citizens' Initiatives Amendment (2004)
- Florida Amendment 1, Ethic Requirements and Procedures of Public Officials and Candidates Initiative (1976)
- Florida Amendment 11, Nonpartisan School Board Elections, Ballot Access Requirements, Public Campaign Financing, and Election Processes Amendment (1998)
- Florida Amendment 5, County Commissioners Amendment (1984)
- Florida Amendment 1, Suspension or Delay of Elections for Emergencies Amendment (1992)
- Florida Amendment 2, Supreme and Appellate Court Judges Amendment (1976)
- Florida Amendment 11, Judge of the Court of Record of Escambia County Amendment (1948)
- Florida Amendment 6, Judge of the Court of Record and County Solicitor for Escambia County Amendment (1946)
- Florida Amendment 4, Election of Circuit Judges Amendment (1942)
- Florida State and Local Bonds Amendment (1930)
- Florida School Districts and Tax Levy Amendment (1928)
- Florida County Commissioner Districts Amendment (1900)
- Florida November General Elections Amendment (October 1896)
- Florida Amendment 1, Election of Executive Officials Amendment (1963)
- Florida Amendment 1, Partisan School Board Elections Amendment (2024)
- Florida Amendment 3, Top-Two Open Primaries for State Offices Initiative (2020)
- Florida Top-Two Open Primaries for State Offices Initiative (2026)
- Florida Amendment 7, Selection of Circuit and County Judges Amendment (1998)
- Florida Amendment 6, Repeal of Public Financing for Statewide Campaigns Amendment (2024)
- Florida Amendment 2, Conduction of Elections Amendment (1968)
- Florida Allow Electronic Signatures for Initiative Petitions or Candidate Ballot Access Initiative (2026)
- Florida Require Insurance Rate Reductions for Policies with No Claims in Past Year Initiative (2026)
- Florida Allow School Board Appointment of Superintendents Amendment (May 1968)
Contact information
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Florida can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Florida County Supervisors of Elections
Florida Division of Elections
- R. A. Gray Building, Room 316
- 500 South Bronough Street
- Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
- Phone: 850-245-6200
- Fax: 850-245-6217
- Email: DivElections@dos.state.fl.us
- Website: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
- 1050 First Street, NE
- Washington, DC 20463
- Telephone: (202)-694-1100
- Toll-free: 1-800-424-9530
- Email: info@fec.gov
- Website: http://www.fec.gov/
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Florida campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ National Association of State Budget Officers, "State Expenditure Report (Fiscal 2014-2016)," accessed June 26, 2017
- ↑ The Florida Senate, "Constitution of the State of Florida," accessed October 17, 2014
- ↑ Tax Policy Center, "State Tax Collection Shares by Type 2000-2013," June 20, 2014
- ↑ Brunori, D. (2011). State Tax Policy: A Political Perspective. Washington, D.C.: The Urban Institute Press
- ↑ Oyez, "Regents of the University of California v. Bakke," accessed February 11, 2015
- ↑ Miller Center of Public Affairs, "Affirmative Action: Race or Class?" accessed February 10, 2015
- ↑ Business and Legal Resources, "Affirmative Action," accessed March 31, 2015
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Campaign Finance Enforcement," accessed May 28, 2025
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "About the FEC," accessed June 27, 2012
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Candidate Registration Brochure," accessed December 7, 2012
- ↑ New York Times, "Justices, 5-4, Reject Corporate Spending Limit," January 21, 2010
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Speechnow.org v. FEC," April 7, 2014
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Two Federal Court Rulings Could Change Campaign Finance Landscape," March 26, 2010
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Ongoing Litigation," accessed March 18, 2015
- ↑ Vox, "Super PACs can spend unlimited amounts on elections, but must disclose their donors," accessed May 21, 2015
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Limits on Contributions to Candidates 2023-2024 Election Cycle," accessed May 8, 2025
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 Florida Statutes, "Title IX, Chapter 106, Section 021," accessed July 12, 2025
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Candidate & Campaign Treasurer Handbook (2024 Election Cycle)," accessed July 12, 2025
- ↑ Florida Statutes, "Title IX, Chapter 106, Section 023," accessed July 12, 2025
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Florida Statutes, "Title IX, Chapter 106, Section 0705," accessed July 12, 2025
- ↑ Florida Statutes, "Title IX, Chapter 106, Section 06," accessed July 12, 2025
- ↑ Florida Statutes, "Title IX, Chapter 106, Section 05," accessed July 12, 2025
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 Florida Statutes, "Title IX, Chapter 106, Section 07," accessed July 12, 2025
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Florida Statutes, "Title IX, Chapter 106, Section 141," accessed July 12, 2025
- ↑ Bills are organized by most recent action. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.
Nonprofit regulation
Nonprofit regulation in Florida involves a complex set of rules that govern nonprofit organizations and charitable giving throughout the state. Major issues surrounding nonprofit regulation nationwide include the following:
- contribution limits,
- donor disclosure, and
- the redefinition of issue advocacy.
Florida is one of 39 states that require charitable organizations, and those intending to solicit on their behalf, to register with the state in order to solicit contributions, whether they are a Florida organization or based out-of-state. In Florida a number of groups and organizations are exempt from registration. Unlike most states, there is no exemption for organizations that raise a small amount of money.[1]
Florida is one of 3 states (along with California and New York) that require organizations to file copies of IRS Form 990 Schedule B attachments, which list names and addresses of contributors who gave over $5,000.[2]
Florida is one of only seven states requiring registration that does not accept the Unified Registration Statement (URS); organizations must use the state registration form.[3]
Education Policy
Charter schools • Higher education • Public education • School choice |
K-12 Public education
The Florida public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2022, Florida had 2,838,866 students enrolled in a total of 4,202 schools in 69 school districts. There were 163,558 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 17 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. In 2020, Florida spent on average $9,937 per pupil.[6] The state's graduation rate was 87 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.[7]
Higher education
Florida's higher education system is composed of 228 colleges and universities. Of these, 43 are public institutions, 77 are nonprofit private schools, and 108 are for-profit private institutions.[8]
School choice
School choice is a term that refers to programs offering alternatives to assigned local public school options. Public school choice options include open enrollment policies, magnet schools, and charter schools. Other options include school vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and education savings accounts (ESAs).[9][10]
Proponents argue that school choice programs improve educational outcomes by expanding opportunity and access for historically disadvantaged students. In addition, advocates claim that school choice programs empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition. Critics contend that these programs divert funds from traditional public schools, thereby generating unequal outcomes for students. In addition, some critics argue that school voucher programs wrongly direct tax dollars to religious organizations, which operate many private schools.
Charter schools
Charter schools in Florida are public schools operated independently of public school systems. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Charter schools generally receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from the state and local school districts for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. As of March 2017, 44 states and the District of Columbia had approved legislation authorizing the creation of public charter schools. Six states had not.
Election Policy
Ballot access requirements
In order to get on the ballot in Florida, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.
There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.
- An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
- An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
- An individual can run as a write-in candidate.
This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Florida. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Florida's 28 United States Representatives and 160 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[11][12][13][14]
Florida was apportioned 28 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, one more than it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Florida after the 2020 census.
Voting
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| Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies. |
The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.
This article includes the following information about voting policies in Florida:
- Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
- Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
- Details about Voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information for election agencies.
Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.
For information on elections happening this year, click here.
Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.
Energy Policy
Energy information
Energy policy involves governmental actions affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of energy in a state. Energy policies are enacted and enforced at the local, state, and federal levels and may change over time. These policies include legislation, regulation, taxes, incentives for energy production or use, standards for energy efficiency, and more. Stakeholders include citizens, politicians, environmental groups, industry groups, and think tanks. A variety of factors can affect the feasibility of federal and state-level energy policies, such as available natural resources, geography, and consumer needs.
Fracking
| Read about Florida's state energy profile » |
As of May 2017, Florida did not have wells stimulated by hydraulic fracturing primarily because Florida's oil and gas formations, such as the Jay Field formation in northwestern Florida and areas of southwestern Florida, did not require fracking technology to produce oil or gas. In addition, fracking did not occur in the state from 1943 to 2011, according to a 2011 report from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which reviewed oil and gas records going back to 1943.[15][16]
In 2016, Florida had 165 crude oil and natural gas wells. Of that total, 64 wells were producing wells (wells capable of producing oil or gas)—39 percent of wells in 2016. The remaining wells were injection and disposal wells (wells used to place water, wastewater, salt water, and/or water with chemicals into underground geological formations), and shut-in wells (wells capable of producing oil or gas but are not currently producing). The map and legend below shows all permitted oil and natural gas wells in Florida. An interactive version of the map can be accessed here.[17][18]
Environmental Policy
Environmental information
Environmental policy aims to conserve natural resources by balancing environmental protection with economic growth, property rights, public health, and energy production. Federal, state, and local government entities develop and implement environmental policies through laws and regulations. This page features information about environmental policy in Florida.
Endangered species
Endangered species policy in Florida involves the identification and protection of endangered and threatened animal and plant species. Policies are implemented and enforced by both the state and federal governments.
Finance Policy
Financial regulation information
The United States financial system is a network that facilitates exchanges between lenders and borrowers. The system, which includes banks and investment firms, is the base for all economic activity in the nation. According to the Federal Reserve, financial regulation has two main intended purposes: to ensure the safety and soundness of the financial system and to provide and enforce rules that aim to protect consumers. The regulatory framework varies across industries, with different regulations applying to different financial services.[19]
Individual federal and state entities have different and sometimes overlapping responsibilities within the regulatory system. For example, individual states and three federal agencies—the Federal Reserve, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)—regulate commercial banks. Other sectors of the financial market are regulated by specific entities.[20][21]
Some, such as the Brookings Institution, argue that expanded governmental regulation of banks and financial products (e.g., mortgages) can prevent large-scale financial crises, protect consumers from abusive practices, and stabilize financial markets. Others, such as the Cato Institute, argue that over-regulation of banks of banks and financial products burdens business, stalls economic growth, and does little, if anything, to stabilize financial markets. Beyond this basic debate about the role of the government in regulating the private financial sector, there are varying opinions about the proper extent of governmental regulation.[22][23]
Healthcare Policy
Healthcare information
Healthcare policy in Florida involves the creation and implementation of laws, rules, and regulations for managing the state's healthcare system. The healthcare system consists of services provided by medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental and physical illness and injury. The system also encompasses a wide range of related sectors, such as insurance, pharmaceuticals and health information technology.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the 50 state legislatures collectively "make thousands of health policy decisions each year," not including the decisions made by local governments, which often oversee hospitals, and private bodies, such as insurers. These decisions can include budget appropriations, requirements for doctors obtaining their licenses, which services are covered by insurance, how personal health information is managed, and which immunizations children must receive, among many others.[24]
Healthcare policy affects not only the cost citizens must pay for care, but also their access to care and the quality of care received, which can influence their overall health. A top concern for policymakers is the rising cost of healthcare, which has placed an increasing strain on the disposable income of consumers as well as on state budgets. Other issues in healthcare policy include state Medicaid expansion, health information technology and privacy, uninsured and underinsured portions of the population, a shortage of primary care physicians, and mental healthcare access and coverage.
Medicaid spending
Florida's Medicaid program provides medical insurance to groups of low-income people and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is a nationwide program jointly funded by the federal government and the states. Medicaid eligibility, benefits, and administration are managed by the states within federal guidelines. A program related to Medicaid is the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers low-income children above the poverty line and is sometimes operated in conjunction with a state's Medicaid program. Medicaid is a separate program from Medicare, which provides health coverage for the elderly.
Effect of the Affordable Care Act
The impact of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), also known as Obamacare, has been debated among politicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The ACA was signed into law in 2010 by President Barack Obama (D). The law facilitated the purchase of health insurance through a system of health insurance exchanges, tax credits, and subsidies. Initially, states were required to expand eligibility for Medicaid under the law; a 2012 ruling by the United States Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion voluntary for states. The law also required insurers to cover healthcare services within a standard set of benefits and prohibited coverage denials based on preexisting conditions. Under the law, all individuals were required to obtain health insurance.
Immigration Policy
Immigration information
Immigration policy determines who may become a new citizen of the United States or enter the country as a temporary worker, student, refugee, or permanent resident. The federal government is responsible for setting and enforcing most immigration policy.
Meanwhile, states assume a largely supportive role, enacting their own supplementary laws and setting policies that may, for example, determine which public services immigrants can access, establish employee screening requirements, or guide the interaction between related state agencies and their federal counterparts.
Some jurisdictions, including some states, cities, and counties, have adopted policies of not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement; these jurisdictions have become known as sanctuary jurisdictions.
Pension Policy
Public pensions
Florida public pensions are the state mechanism by which state and many local government employees in Florida receive retirement benefits.
There were 469 public pension systems in Florida as of 2020. Of these, one was a state-level program while the remaining 468 were administered at the local level. Membership in Florida's various pension systems totaled 1,221,694, as of fiscal year 2020. Of these, 574,359 were active members.[25]
Public policy in other states
Footnotes
- ↑ Fishman, S. & Barrett, R. (2012). Nonprofit Fundraising Registration: The 50 State Guide. NOLO.
- ↑ Labyrinth, Inc, "IRS 990 Schedule B Required With Registration," August 28, 2013"
- ↑ "Multistate Filing Form," accessed December 17, 2014
- ↑ Guidestar, Fundraising: What Laws Apply?" accessed February 18, 2015
- ↑ London School of Economics, "Campaign finance laws that make small donations public may lead to fewer people contributing and to smaller donations," January 7, 2015
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, "U.S. School System Current Spending Per Pupil by Region: Fiscal Year 2020," May 18, 2022
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Fast Facts: High school graduation rates," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "College Navigator - Florida," accessed July 12, 2016
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "School Choice and Charters," accessed June 18, 2014
- ↑ Friedman Foundation for School Choice, "What is School Choice?" accessed June 18, 2014
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
- ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
- ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
- ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedDEP - ↑ Florida Department of Environmental Protection, "Oil and Gas Annual Production Reports," accessed May 9, 2017
- ↑ Florida Department of Environmental Protection, "Oil and Gas Program," accessed May 9, 2017
- ↑ Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, "Government Performance and Results Act Annual Performance Report 2011," July 10, 2012
- ↑ The National Bureau of Economic Research, "A Brief History of Regulations Regarding Financial Markets in the United States: 1789 to 2009," September 2011
- ↑ Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, "The U.S. Federal Financial Regulatory System: Restructuring Federal Bank Regulation," January 19, 2006
- ↑ Brookings, "The Origins of the Financial Crisis," November 24, 2008
- ↑ The Cato Institute, "Did Deregulation Cause the Financial Crisis?" July 2009
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Health," accessed July 8, 2015
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, 2020 Annual Survey of Public Pensions: State & Local Tables accessed February 23, 2022
