Florida politicians want to restrict voters' rights to amend our Constitution

[Zorro]

The Florida Legislature and the Governor's Office want to restrict an already difficult process that takes nearly 900,000 signatures and a 60% voter margin to become effective.

Imagine voters in Florida approving the right to clean water, a higher minimum wage, the personal use of marijuana by adults, rate reductions on auto and property insurance, even prayer in schools. Fat chance. Not going to happen.

It's not because Floridians are opposed to these ideas. It's their elected officials in the Florida Legislature and the Governor's Office who want to restrict an already difficult process that takes nearly 900,000 signatures to get a change on the ballot and 60% voter approval in a statewide election to make that change permanent.

Right now, voters have the right to amend the Florida Constitution to get ideas, new laws and programs approved over the objections of state leaders. But, "signature petition fraud" seems to be a thing. So, if the governor and his allies get their way, the petition process to bring meaningful changes will be shut down and the citizens shut out.

The Florida House already approved HB/CS 1205, which imposes a number of new fees, restrictions and revocations. For example, voters would have to provide their name, address, voter registration number or date of birth when signing a petition. Anyone paid to collect signatures must be U.S. citizens and free of felony convictions. They would have to submit a criminal background check and register with the state before collecting any signatures.

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/opinion/columns/2025/04/15/florida-constitution-amend-voters-rights-government/82775021007/