Guest Speaker: Retired Professor of Political Science Marcella Washington
The program focused on the six ballot measures appearing on the November 5, 2024 Florida General Election Ballot. Attendees were given a handout briefly describing the proposed amendments.
- Amendment 1 Partisan Election of Members of District School Boards
Discussion: The discussion focused on the disadvantages of moving from non-partisan to partisan election of school boards.
Partisan elections would further politicize the school board elections. Partisan elections would bar voters unaffiliated with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party from voting in the primary for the nomination.
Consensus: Vote No on Amendment 1
- Amendment 2: Right to Fish and Hunt
Discussion: Florida law already allows the right to fish and hunt. Issues were raised concerning inhumane means of hunting and fishing. This could include an increase use of gill nets, steel jaw traps, and spears.
Consensus: Vote No on Amendment 2
- Amendment 3: Adult Personal Use of Marijuana
Discussion: Concerns were raised that underage children could have easier access to marijuana. Another concern was that one company could have a monopoly over the sale and distribution of the substance. But there was strong support for decimalization for possession of small quantities of marijuana.
The state of Florida would have to pass enabling legislation to regulate where and how personal marijuana would be used if legalized.
Consensus: Vote Yes on Amendment 3
- Amendment 4: Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion
Discussion: It was generally agreed that abortion is a very private and very personal issue. The proposed amendment would not exclude parental notification for minors seeking abortions.
Consensus: Vote Yes on Amendment 4
- Amendment 5: Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain Homestead Exemptions
Discussion: Concerns were raised that the adjustments would cut local government funding of community and social services.
Consensus: Vote No on Amendment 5
- Amendment 6: Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement
Discussion: Currently, public campaign financing is available for candidates for the of offices of governor, attorney general, chief financial officer, and commissioner of agriculture.
Public financing of campaigns benefits Democrats more than Republicans. The Republican Party has a lot more money, funding, outside groups, special interest groups, who help pay for campaigns than the Democratic Party has in Florida.
Consensus: Vote No on Amendment 6
Marcella Washington also explained the Electoral College Process.
- Each State has an Electoral College number. That number is based on the number of members that state has in the United States House of Representatives plus its two United States Senators.
- The total number of Electoral College votes is 538. That number reflects 435 members in the House of Representatives, 100 Senators and the District of Columbia is awarded three Electoral College votes. The winner of the presidential election must receive a majority of Electoral College votes: 270 votes.
- Each state, except for Maine and Nebraska, award Electoral College votes on a winner- takes- all basis. These two states allocate votes not only according to who wins statewide, but also according to who wins the congressional districts in the state.
Be the first to comment