Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen - August 2020 | Page 11

State and local government costs will increase to
comply with the new minimum wage levels. Additional
annual wage costs will be approximately $16
million in 2022, increasing to about $540 million in
2027 and thereafter. Government actions to mitigate
these costs are unlikely to produce material
savings. Other government costs and revenue
impacts, both positive and negative, are not quantifiable.
AMENDMENT 3
TITLE: ALL VOTERS VOTE IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS
FOR STATE LEGISLATURE, GOVERNOR AND
CABINET
BALLOT SUMMARY: Allows all registered voters to
vote in primaries for state legislature, governor, and
cabinet regardless of political party affiliation. All
candidates for an office, including party nominated
candidates, appear on the same primary ballot.
Two highest vote -getters advance to general election.
If only two candidates qualify, no primary is
held, and winner is determined in general election.
Candidate’s party affiliation may appear on ballot as
provided by law. Effective January 1, 2024.
SPONSOR: ALL VOTERS VOTE
YES VOTE: IF APPROVED, OPENS ALL STATE (NOT
FEDERAL) ELECTION PRIMARIES TO ALL VOTERS
REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION. FLORIDA
CURRENTLY HAS A “CLOSED” PRIMARY SYSTEM
WHERE VOTERS *MUST BE REGISTERED AS A
DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN TO VOTE. CANDI-
DATES WITH THE TWO *HIGHEST VOTE TOTALS
–REGARDLESS OF PARTY—ADVANCE TO GENER-
AL ELECTION. EXAMPLE: IF TWO REPUBLICANS
GET THE HIGHEST VOTE TOTALS FOR GOVERNOR,
THEY WILL FACE OFF IN NOVEMBER.
NO VOTE: KEEPS CURRENT CLOSED PRIMARY
SYSTEM
LEGAL NOTE: WOULD NOT GO INTO EFFECT
UNTIL 2024 ELECTION CYCLE. AN AMENDMENT
TO MAKE THE SAME RULE FOR FEDERAL ELEC-
TIONS (PRESIDENT, U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE)
HAS FAILED
FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT (REQUIRED BY
LAW TO APPEAR ON BALLOT):
The Financial Impact Estimating Conference
projects that the combined costs across counties
will range from $5.2 million to $5.8 million for
each of the first three election cycles occurring
in even-numbered years after the amendment’s
effective date, with the costs for each of the intervening
years dropping to less than $450,000. With
respect to state costs for oversight, the additional
costs for administering elections are expected to
be minimal.
AMENDMENT 4
TITLE: VOTER APPROVAL OF CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS
BALLOT SUMMARY: 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.
SPONSOR: FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
YES VOTE: IF APPROVED BY 60% OF VOTERS, THE
AMENDMENT WOULD THEN NEED TO BE AP-
PROVED BY 60% OF VOTERS IN THE NEXT GENER-
AL ELECTION (A SECOND ELECTION) BEFORE IT
WILL BECOME LAW.
NO VOTE: LEAVES CURRENT AMENDMENT AP-
PROVAL SYSTEM IN PLACE (ONE BALLOT VOTE
APPROVED BY 60% OF VOTERS)
FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT (REQUIRED BY
LAW TO APPEAR ON BALLOT):
Since the maximum state cost is likely less than $1
million per cycle but the impact cannot be discretely
quantified, the change to the state’s budget
is unknown.
Similarly, the economic impact cannot be modeled,
although the spending increase is expected
AUGUST 2020 • DITCHMEN 9