ORLANDO, Fla. – Article VI, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution is on the line for the Nov. 5 election. To repeal or not to repeal?
The section was adopted in 1998, establishing a spending limit for candidates using public funds for their campaign. It also states that it is the responsibility of the state Legislature to provide funding for statewide elections.
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The eligible offices include governor, attorney general, chief financial officer and commissioner of agriculture granted the candidate is not running unopposed and agrees to spending limits. Other requirements under the section include raising $150,000 as a gubernatorial candidate or $100,000 as a cabinet candidate, limiting loans or personal contributions to $25,000, limiting political party contributions to $250,000 and reporting campaign finance data to the the division of elections.
According to Ballotpedia.org, the gubernatorial spending limit was $30.29 million and the cabinet spending limit was $15.14 million in 2022.
Florida is one of the 12 states that require public funding for governor and lieutenant governor candidates. Other states include Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont.
An initial attempt to repeal the policy failed in 2010. Now, it is up to Florida voters to decide whether this policy should stand or not. A supermajority vote of 60% is required to pass the amendment.
Here’s what you need to know.
[RESULTS 2024: Complete Coverage | Voter Guide for the Nov. 5 election | Here are the 6 amendments that will be on the Florida ballot in November]
Ballot language
BALLOT SUMMARY:
From the Florida Division of Elections website:
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.
Amendment 6 will remove Article VI, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution which established that it is the state’s policy to provide for statewide elections and set spending limits for candidates who use public funds. Here’s what that would look like.
Breaking down the amendment
As of right now, the Florida Constitution says “The legislature shall provide funding for this provision,” but spending limits will be placed on campaigns funded by the state.
If the amendment is denied, then the article section will stand.
If passed, Amendment 6 would essentially remove the requirement for the legislature to provide campaign financing for candidates who are running for statewide offices. The resolution will apply to the next general or special election.
The removal of the section will save the General Revenue Fund $4 - $13 million per election cycle by cutting out public campaign funding but will in turn affect private contributors as they will likely be used in place of public funding, according to the ballot summary. In the 2022 election cycle, the total public financing distributions added up to $13 million, the summary states.
Ballotpedia reported the amendment originally being approved along party lines. Republicans were in favor while Democrats were opposed.
The amendment received support from Republican State Sen. Travis Hutson, who sponsored the amendment, and opposition from Democratic State Sen. Tina Polsky.
Common Cause Florida, a political action group, raised concerns about the amendment because the removal of funds will bar candidates who do not have efficient funds from running. The group’s website states “You should not have to be rich to run for office.”
Bottom Line
A “YES” vote on Amendment 6 means you are in favor of repealing public financing for statewide candidates who agree to campaign limits.
A “NO” vote on Amendment 6 means you are against repealing public financing for statewide candidates who agree to campaign limits.
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