23 September 2024
It’s been a low energy, blah day. I’ve been good for nothing pretty much all day. Apple did send out updates to their iOS system (Sequoia) and I’ve been updating the computer and laptop. They also sent updates for the iPad and iPhone. That keeps you busy for a little while. Then there’s reading on the iPad and a nap.
The rest of the morning was spent trying to figure out the November ballot. The Broward Supervisor of Elections posted the ballot for my precinct and it’s not the major offices I worry about but the judgeships, amendments to the constitution, and referenda from Broward County.
I try to take my time and research a little about each judgeship. Florida has a system that for appointed judges, you vote yes or no on retaining them. I’ll admit to sometimes voting no simply because I don’t want them to be overwhelmingly approved to keep in office.
We have six amendments to the constitution of Florida this go around. To be amended, you have to obtain 60% of the vote.
Amendment 1 is whether or not to change the district election of school boards to partisan elections. Currently, you run for school board as a nonpartisan position.
Amendment 2 is the right to fish and hunt. I’m not sure why this is on the ballot because all you have to do is buy a license and the state is not going to change that – it adds revenue to the state.
Amendment 3 is adult personal use of marijuana.
Amendment 4 is to limit government interference with abortion.
Amendment 5 is annual adjustments to the value of certain Homestead Exemptions. This is proposing an inflation adjustment for Homestead Exemptions. I’ve not seen this before with any other state. We already adjust Homestead Exemption for veterans and old age.
Amendment 6 is the repeal of the Public Campaign Financing requirement. Right now, Florida funds, out of taxpayer money, anyone who meets the requirements. It’s not like your income tax form where you check that for federal elections.
There are two referenda for Broward County. Referendum 1 changes how membership in the Broward Housing Council is determined and puts it in the hands of the Broward County Commission. Referendum 2 expands the role of the Broward Inspector General to the school board. The school board is already governed by the Department of Education in Tallahassee with their inspector general but the school board has been plagued with one scandal after another.
This year is a relatively short ballot. It only runs for 3 pages. A few years ago we had one that ran for 6 due to amendments and referenda.
Broward County has a nice system that if you request a ballot-by-mail (and you now have to request it every year) and you send it back filled in properly with signatures and dates (postage free) then you can go to the website of the Supervisor of Elections and see if (1) they received it and (2) if it was counted. If it hasn’t been received nor counted, you can then take steps to get another ballot. However, my experience with the USPS is they are pretty diligent about making sure those are processed.
In the meantime, we get to be bombarded by political ads, phone calls, texts, emails, and actual visits to the house until November 5th. Democracy in action!
Stay tuned!