Florida Amendment 4 Explained

FLORIDA — Amendment 4 would make it harder for future amendments to change Florida’s constitution. Florida voters have had a big say on state law during past elections.

In the last decade, medical marijuana was legalized and reformed felons earned the opportunity to get their voting rights back. This amendment, would make voters say yes -- twice.

Here’s what the language will say, when you see amendment on your ballot:

“Requires all proposed amendments or revisions to the state constitution to be approved by the voters in two elections, instead of one, in order to take effect. The proposal applies the current thresholds for passage to each of the two elections.”

Dr. Matt Corrigan, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Jacksonville University, says the amendment isn’t without its merits. “The argument is that we change our constitution too much here in Florida and there is some evidence of that. We’ve changed our Florida constitution much more often than we’ve changed the U.S. Constitution.”

The group behind the amendment, Keep Our Constitution Clean, Inc., says Amendment 4 will help cut down on the number of seemingly frivolous changes.

Opponents say it would make changes more difficult and ultimately more expensive, and would cause delays for necessary changes.

One thing is clear; a yes vote from voters means they’ll have to say yes to any amendment twice in the future.

“I don’t think this passes, because it puts another hurdle up for voters and voters generally don’t like that.”

At least 60% of voters must approve an amendment for it to pass.

Cox Media Group