Explaining what a ‘yes’ vote means for amendments on the 2024 Seminole County ballots

There are a number of amendments on the Nov. 5 election ballot that Seminole County voters will have an opportunity to weigh in on. Oviedo Community News has broken down what they mean so you can make the most-informed decision possible. In light of residents’ concerns over confusing negatives and double negatives in ballot language in recent years, we decided that the most accessible way to explain the potential impact is by saying what a “yes” vote would mean for each amendment. The OCN team does not advocate for or against candidates or amendments (and you can see our ethics policy here); we’re attempting to present the amendments’ impacts in the most easily understood way.

Florida Constitutional Amendments

AMENDMENT 1: Partisan Election of Members of District School Boards

What voting yes would do: It would add party labels for candidates for school board races. School board elections have been nonpartisan since the voter-passed Florida Amendment 11 in 1998.

No. 1 Constitutional Amendment (Article IX, Section 4 and Article XII)
Partisan Election of Members of District School Boards

(language was copied from the sample ballot)

Proposing amendments to the State
Constitution to require members of a district
school board to be elected in a partisan election
rather than a nonpartisan election and to
specify that the amendment only applies to
elections held on or after the November 2026
general election. However, partisan primary
elections may occur before the 2026 general
election for purposes of nominating political
party candidates to that office for placement on
the 2026 general election ballot.

AMENDMENT 2: Right to Fish and Hunt

What voting yes will do: It would enshrine hunting and fishing rights into Florida’s Constitution.

[Tour the local Wildlife Corridor through local photographer’s lens]

No. 2 Constitutional Amendment (Article I, Section 28)
Right to Fish and Hunt

(language was copied from the sample ballot)

Proposing an amendment to the State
Constitution to preserve forever fishing and
hunting, including by the use of traditional
methods, as a public right and preferred means
of responsibly managing and controlling fish
and wildlife. Specifies that the amendment does
not limit the authority granted to the Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission under
Section 9 of Article IV of the State Constitution.

AMENDMENT 3: Adult Personal Use of Marijuana

What voting yes will do: It would legalize the possession, purchase and use of recreational marijuana for those 21 years of age and older.

No. 3 Constitutional Amendment (Article X, Section 29)
Adult Personal Use of Marijuana

(language was copied from the sample ballot)

Allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana
accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise; allows
Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate,
process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories. Applies to Florida law;
does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law. Establishes possession limits for
personal use. Allows consistent legislation. Defines terms. Provides effective date.
The amendment’s financial impact primarily comes from expected sales tax collections. If legal
today, sales of non-medical marijuana would be subject to sales tax and would remain so if voters
approve this amendment. Based on other states’ experiences, expected retail sales of
non-medical marijuana would generate at least $195.6 million annually in state and local sales tax
revenues once the retail market is fully operational, although the timing of this occurring is
unclear. Under current law, the existing statutory framework for medical marijuana is repealed six
months after the effective date of this amendment which affects how this amendment will be
implemented. A new regulatory structure for both medical and nonmedical use of marijuana will
be needed. Its design cannot be fully known until the legislature acts; however, regulatory costs
will probably be offset by regulatory fees. Other potential costs and savings cannot be predicted.
THIS PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE A NET
POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE STATE BUDGET. THIS IMPACT MAY RESULT IN GENERATING
ADDITIONAL REVENUE OR AN INCREASE IN GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

AMENDMENT 4: Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion

What voting yes will do: It would protect abortion access and allow abortions until fetal viability, usually considered around 24 weeks of pregnancy, and allow abortions to protect the health of the mother, as determined by a healthcare provider. It would overturn the current six-week abortion ban.

No. 4 Constitutional Amendment
Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion

(language was copied from the sample ballot)

No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to
protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment
does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or
guardian before a minor has an abortion.
The proposed amendment would result in significantly more abortions and fewer live births per
year in Florida. The increase in abortions could be even greater if the amendment invalidates laws
requiring parental consent before minors undergo abortions and those ensuring only licensed
physicians perform abortions. There is also uncertainty about whether the amendment will require
the state to subsidize abortions with public funds. Litigation to resolve those and other
uncertainties will result in additional costs to the state government and state courts that will
negatively impact the state budget. An increase in abortions may negatively affect the growth of
state and local revenues over time. Because the fiscal impact of increased abortions on state and
local revenues and costs cannot be estimated with precision, the total impact of the proposed
amendment is indeterminate. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS AMENDMENT CANNOT BE
DETERMINED DUE TO AMBIGUITIES AND UNCERTAINTIES SURROUNDING THE
AMENDMENT’S IMPACT.

AMENDMENT 5: Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain Homestead Exemptions

What voting yes will do: It would require adjusting the homestead property-tax exemption for inflation, potentially increasing the value of the tax break for eligible homeowners.

No. 5 Constitutional Amendment (Article VII, Section 6 and Article XII)

Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain
Homestead Exemptions
(language was copied from the sample ballot)

Proposing an amendment to the State
Constitution to require an annual adjustment for
inflation to the value of current or future
homestead exemptions that apply solely to
levies other than school district levies and for
which every person who has legal or equitable
title to real estate and maintains thereon the
permanent residence of the owner, or another
person legally or naturally dependent upon the
owner is eligible. This amendment takes effect
January 1, 2025.

AMENDMENT 6: Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement

What voting yes will do: It would repeal the provision in the state constitution that allows some statewide candidates to use public funds for their campaigns. It was voted into place in 1998.

No. 6 Constitutional Amendment (Article VI, Section 7)

Repeal of Public Campaign Financing
Requirement

(language was copied from the sample ballot)

Proposing the repeal of the provision in the
State Constitution which requires public
financing for campaigns of candidates for
elective statewide office who agree to campaign
spending limits.

Seminole County Referendum

Extension of existing infrastructure sales surtax

What voting yes will do: It would extend the one-cent, or penny sales tax, used for infrastructure projects through Dec. 31, 2034. If approved, it would bring in a projected $992 million over the next decade.

Seminole County Referendum

REFERENDUM ON EXTENSION OF
EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE SALES
SURTAX

(language was copied from the sample ballot)

For the purpose of improving local schools,
reducing traffic, improving parks and
recreational opportunities, reducing flooding,
purchasing environmentally sensitive lands, and
improving public safety, shall Seminole County
renew the existing one-cent sales surtax paid
by visitors and residents until December 31,
2034 with all the dollars kept in Seminole
County?

Seminole County Charter Referendums

Requiring Supermajority vote by County Commissioners to transfer or change the use of Natural Lands

What voting yes will do: It would require a supermajority vote by the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners — 4-1 in the Board’s current makeup — to sell off or change the usage of natural lands owned by taxpayers.

Seminole County Charter Referendum

Requiring Supermajority vote by County
Commissioners to transfer or change the
use of Natural Lands

(language was copied from the sample ballot)

Shall the Seminole County Charter be revised
to require the vote of a Supermajority (i.e., a
majority plus one) of the members of the
Seminole County Board of County
Commissioners in order to transfer or materially
change the use or purpose of properties that
are owned or managed by the County and that
it has designated as “Natural Lands”?

[Read more about what the county and state are doing to protect natural lands]

Requiring Supermajority vote by County Commissioners to remove property from the County’s Rural Area

What voting yes will do: It would require a supermajority vote by the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners — 4-1 in the Board’s current makeup — to move the lines and remove land from the county’s rural area.

Seminole County Charter Referendum
Requiring Supermajority vote by County
Commissioners to remove property from the
County’s Rural Area

(language was copied from the sample ballot)

Shall the Seminole County Charter be revised
to require the vote of a Supermajority (i.e., a
majority plus one) of the members of the
Seminole County Board of County
Commissioners in order to remove property
from that portion of the County that is
designated as “Rural Area”?

Oviedo Public Safety Building Project; General Obligation Bonds

What voting yes will do: It would allow the city to borrow up to $20.4 million in general obligation bonds that would be paid back over 30 years through property taxes for a new public safety building. A similar referendum asking for $35.5 million in bonds failed in 2023.