10-15-2016, 02:09 PM
Let's keep this a non-Trump/Hillary debate.. There's enough of those threads. What we don't have, is a referendum thread explaining what exactly is going to be on the ballot in November to vote for, and in detail.. I think this is a good idea to have because some of the wording can be confusing and people can sometimes get lost in translation while in the voting booth.
So, let's go over some of what we'll see as Floridians at the polls..
Amendment 1. Energy. Equipment that produces solar energy for personal use..
A vote <b>"for"</b> Amendment 1 supports adding a section in the state constitution giving residents of Florida the right to own or lease solar energy equipment for personal use while also enacting constitutional protection for any state or local law ensuring that residents who do not produce solar energy can abstain from subsidizing its production.
A vote <b>"against"</b> Amendment 1 opposes constitutionalizing the right to own or lease solar equipment and the protection of laws preventing subsidization of solar energy, thereby, leaving the personal use of solar power protected as a right by state statute, and not by the constitution.
Amendment 2. Medical Marijuana Legalization..
A <b>"yes"</b> vote supports legalizing medical marijuana for individuals with specific debilitating diseases or comparable debilitating conditions as determined by a licensed state physician.
A <b>"no"</b> vote opposes this proposal for legalization of medical marijuana, keeping the state's current more limited medical marijuana program in place.
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">Amendment 2 was also designed to require the Department of Health to regulate marijuana production and distribution centers and issue identification cards for patients and caregivers.<sup>[1]</sup>
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">Amendment 3. Taxes.. Property tax exemptions for first responders
A <b>"yes"</b> vote supports providing property tax exemptions to first responders who have been permanently disabled in the line of duty.
A <b>"no"</b> vote opposes providing property tax exemptions for first responders disabled in the line of duty.
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">Currently, this type of property tax break is applicable only to surviving spouses of first responders or members of the military who were killed in the line of duty.<sup>[2]</sup><sup>[3]</sup>
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">Amendment 5. Taxes. Property tax breaks for senior citizens..
A <b>"yes"</b> vote supports providing eligible senior citizens with certain property tax exemptions and allowing home values to remain fixed after application for the exemption, even if the value later exceeds the designated threshold.
A <b>"no"</b> vote opposes this proposal for providing senior citizens with certain property tax exemptions and the ability to have fixed home values, even if the value later exceeds the designated threshold.
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">Amendment 5 would provide a tax break for homes valued at less than $250,000 owned by individuals over the age of 65 who have lived in the home for at least 25 years. The exemptions would also be available to permanently disabled veterans aged 65 or older and surviving spouses of veterans or first responders who died in the line of duty. Seniors would be able to keep their tax exemption even if their home value exceeded $250,000 in the future.<sup>[2]</sup><sup>[3]</sup><sup>[4]</sup><sup>[5]</sup>
https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_2016_ballot_measures
If you're not too familiar with some of these, it may be worth looking into..
So, let's go over some of what we'll see as Floridians at the polls..
Amendment 1. Energy. Equipment that produces solar energy for personal use..
A vote <b>"for"</b> Amendment 1 supports adding a section in the state constitution giving residents of Florida the right to own or lease solar energy equipment for personal use while also enacting constitutional protection for any state or local law ensuring that residents who do not produce solar energy can abstain from subsidizing its production.
A vote <b>"against"</b> Amendment 1 opposes constitutionalizing the right to own or lease solar equipment and the protection of laws preventing subsidization of solar energy, thereby, leaving the personal use of solar power protected as a right by state statute, and not by the constitution.
Amendment 2. Medical Marijuana Legalization..
A <b>"yes"</b> vote supports legalizing medical marijuana for individuals with specific debilitating diseases or comparable debilitating conditions as determined by a licensed state physician.
A <b>"no"</b> vote opposes this proposal for legalization of medical marijuana, keeping the state's current more limited medical marijuana program in place.
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">Amendment 2 was also designed to require the Department of Health to regulate marijuana production and distribution centers and issue identification cards for patients and caregivers.<sup>[1]</sup>
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">Amendment 3. Taxes.. Property tax exemptions for first responders
A <b>"yes"</b> vote supports providing property tax exemptions to first responders who have been permanently disabled in the line of duty.
A <b>"no"</b> vote opposes providing property tax exemptions for first responders disabled in the line of duty.
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">Currently, this type of property tax break is applicable only to surviving spouses of first responders or members of the military who were killed in the line of duty.<sup>[2]</sup><sup>[3]</sup>
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">Amendment 5. Taxes. Property tax breaks for senior citizens..
A <b>"yes"</b> vote supports providing eligible senior citizens with certain property tax exemptions and allowing home values to remain fixed after application for the exemption, even if the value later exceeds the designated threshold.
A <b>"no"</b> vote opposes this proposal for providing senior citizens with certain property tax exemptions and the ability to have fixed home values, even if the value later exceeds the designated threshold.
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;">Amendment 5 would provide a tax break for homes valued at less than $250,000 owned by individuals over the age of 65 who have lived in the home for at least 25 years. The exemptions would also be available to permanently disabled veterans aged 65 or older and surviving spouses of veterans or first responders who died in the line of duty. Seniors would be able to keep their tax exemption even if their home value exceeded $250,000 in the future.<sup>[2]</sup><sup>[3]</sup><sup>[4]</sup><sup>[5]</sup>
https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_2016_ballot_measures
If you're not too familiar with some of these, it may be worth looking into..