Voters Give Mixed Returns On Amendments
MIAMI (CBS4) - Floridians faced a multitude of amendments on the 2010 midterm ballot. From class sizes to public financing of campaigns to preventing gerrymandering of districts, 60 percent of voters had to approve any potential amendment for it to become law.
Amendment 1 dealt with the issue of public financing for campaigns. The amendment would have repealed a provision in the state constitution requiring public financing of campaigns for governor, CFO, attorney general, and agriculture commissioner for those candidates who agree to spending limits. In the end, there was not enough support for the amendment and it failed.
Amendment 2, which gives a new property tax break to thousands of military members based in the state, was overwhelmingly approved by Florida voters. The outcome was not a surprise to political observers, as most expected it to easily pass.
Amendment 4 was controversial between the business community and some in the public. The amendment would have required voter approval to change city, town, and county comprehensive land-use plans. Backers called it "Florida Hometown Democracy," while opposition said it was a job-killer. In the end, it couldn't muster the votes to pass.
Amendments 5 & 6 focused on legislative districts. The new amendments require that both legislative and congressional districts be compact, equal in population, and make use of existing city, county, and geographical boundaries. The amendments also would prohibit drawing districts to favor or disfavor an incumbent or political party.
The amendments basically sought to prevent gerrymandering districts when they are drawn up every 10 years after the census. With 92 percent of the vote counted at 1 a.m., voters had given both amendments roughly 62 percent of the vote. However, it had not officially been declared passed.
Finally, amendment 8 sought to increase the class size limits that were passed in a separate election several years ago. The amendment wound up failing because it failed to garner the 60 percent needed to be codified into law.
