Prop*50

Two more amendments knocked from the Florida ballot

The Leon County Circuit Court has blocked a total of three legislative referenda from the ballot, two in the past week.  The first to go was Amendment 7.  That was the Legislature's alternative to two redistricting initiatives on the ballot, Amendments 5 and 6.  The judge claimed that Amendment 7 was so confusing that it took him three days to fully understand it.

Last week, Amendment 3 met the same fate.  This one would have increased the homestead exemption for properties bought in 2010.  The judge thought voters would be misled into believing the increase applied to all homeowners, not just those who bought in 2010.

Just yesterday, a third amendment fell from the ballot.  This time it was Amendment 9, the state's attempt to block the new federal health insurance reform law.

In all three cases, judges found that ballot titles and summaries were misleading.

Read an excellent summary of the Florida situation in the Orlando Sentinel.

Florida Redistricting Amendment Blocked from the Ballot

A Leon County Circuit Judge has ruled Amendment 7 off the Florida ballot.  Amendment 7 was a redistricting measure proposed by the Florida Legislature as an alternative to Amendments 5 and 6, which are two redistricting initiatives.  The judge said that Amendment 7 was too vague, and that it could violate constitutional requirements that districts be contiguous.

An appeal to the state supreme court is almost certain.