Push for voice paper Initiative Reform underway in the Florida House

Tallahassee, Florida – Florida could soon give controversial protective measures in the process of state election initiative.

The new proposal contains additional requirements for groups that sponsored changes in the constitution of Florida.

“This process is incredibly important,” said the representative of Fort Myers, Jenna Personal-Mulicka, the Bill sponsor. “It is our constitution. It belongs to the people in Florida and we have to make sure that we have integrity into the initiative process. “

As a priority of governor Ron Desantis, the reforms come after a certain struggle in Florida for initiatives in 2025 that almost legalized marijuana for leisure and have included abortion protection in the state constitution. Both initiatives failed.

“This draft law is not about election integrity,” said Genesis Robinson, Executive Director of Equal Ground. “It's about fear. Fear of people who use their constitutional law law. If you are not transferred to the problems that are most important to you. ”

According to the law, petition sponsors must achieve a bond of $ 1 million. You also have to limit the signature to Florida residents who carry out a background check. The measure limits the schedule between the signature meeting and the submission of signatures to election officers.

“If you are interested in the integrity of the process, you should support this calculation … Without integrity in the process, all results of the process are just as corrupt as the means that she brought there,” said Sam Greco, Republican of the Republican State of Palm Coast.

The supporters of the law claim that the changes will protect the election integrity and restrict potential fraud. Critics decipher the proposal as harmful. They claim that the measure authorizes wealthy Floridians and at the same time disadvantages others, since the legislation raises the punishments up to $ 50,000 per violation of sponsors.

“The fine proposed in this bill is punishable. They are arbitrary and discriminatory against the small person and the family of working class, ”said Daryl Campbell, MP of the Democratic State of Fort Lauderdale.

The Republicans in Florida have long criticized the state's initiative procedure and explained that it has granted too much access to state constitution. Florida is just one of 24 countries that enable such citizens' initiatives, which is a form of direct democracy.

“The United States of America, the state of Florida, are representative republics,” said Jeff Holcomb. “You have 120 chances in the Florida house and you have 40 chances in the Florida Senate. It is not difficult to create an invoice.”

The citizens' initiatives come from Florida until 1968. During this time, voters in Florida have come up with more than 50 different initiatives.

The legislation proceeded on Thursday through his first house committee. It will appear again in the committee and, if this is approved, will appear for a final coordination both in the house and in the Senate Chamber.