JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – During this election, Floridians voted on six constitutional amendments; two initiatives passed, while four did not.
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Some of the amendments were more controversial than others in the lead-up to election day with money being spent on both sides to convince voters whether to say “Yes” or “No.”
Amendment 3, which focused on adult marijuana use, and Amendment 4, which focused on abortion, were both placed on the ballot through petition signatures.
We know that the language on the ballot can be confusing when trying to decide yes or no on an amendment, so we’ve got a breakdown of each. (Thanks to our political experts Daniel Cronrath and Chris Hand for providing us with the information.)
Amendment 1 - Failed
Amendment 1, which asked voters if they wanted to reverse a decision that made school board elections non-partisan, has failed.
The Florida Legislature voted to put this measure on the ballot.
RELATED | Path to the Polls: Will Amendment 1 turn the school playground into a political battleground?
The sponsor of the bill, State Rep. Spencer Roach, a Republican from North of Fort Myers, said the measure was designed to provide more information about school board candidates to voters. He said it was about transparency, not giving one political party an advantage over another.
But opponents of the measure worried that, if passed, the amendment would’ve furthered politicized education. They argued that without partisan school board elections, there can be healthy debate and healthy discussion.
If passed: School Board races across Florida would’ve become partisan again, starting with 2026 candidates. They would’ve have to run as Democrats, Republicans, other parties of no party affiliation.
If failed: The system will remain as it currently is and School Board elections will remain nonpartisan, with candidates running without a party affiliation on the ballot.
Amendment 2 - Passed
Amendment 2, which will enshrine the public’s right to fish and hunt as a way to control fish and wildlife, has passed in Florida.
Under Florida Statute, everyone already has a right to fish and hunt, but supporters of the amendment say it would remove any ambiguity.
But some environmental groups have come out against Amendment 2 because they’re afraid of the language that says things like “the use of traditional hunting methods.”
Many hunting methods have been banned as cruel to animals.
If passed: The Florida Constitution will explicitly recognize everyone’s right to hunt and fish, and the Florida Legislature will not have the ability to impose restrictions on people’s ability to fish or hunt.
If failed: Florida Statute, as it presently is written recognizing the right to hunt and fish, would stand.
Amendment 3 - Failed
Amendment 3, which would’ve legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 years of age and older, has failed.
A nine-figure campaign bankrolled by the state’s largest medical marijuana operator drew intense opposition from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
RELATED: How would Amendment 3 be implemented if passed? It may depend on who your sheriff is, former officer says | Florida officials share different perspectives on marijuana legalization
The proposal would effectively decriminalize possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana by adults ages 21 and over.
The governor has enlisted numerous state agency heads to join his crusade against the pot proposal and has unleashed a variety of state resources to campaign against the measure. For example, State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo recently released guidance warning about dangers of marijuana and advising health-care providers to regularly drug-screen patients ages 12 and older, and the highway safety agency has released public-service announcements warning against driving while under the influence of marijuana.
In a bipartisan blitz this week, Smart & Safe Florida released an ad featuring former President Donald Trump, a Florida resident, saying he intends to vote for the measure and Vice President Kamala Harris also saying recreational marijuana should be legalized.
RELATED: Trump supports Florida’s Amendment 3, but says marijuana legalization ‘should be done correctly’
Medical marijuana use is already legal in Florida.
If passed: Small amounts of recreational marijuana would’ve been legal for those 21 and older without a doctor’s prescription.
If failed: The law would remain as it currently exists with individuals able to use marijuana if they have a medical card and purchase it at dispensaries. Recreational marijuana use would remain illegal in Florida
Amendment 4 - Failed
Amendment 4, which let voters decide on a woman’s right to an abortion, has failed.
Amendment 4 would’ve allowed a woman to seek an abortion up to the point that the medical community calls viability. The American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said that it is a 24-week window. After that window, a child has more than a 50/50 chance of living if it is brought out of the womb.
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The proposed constitutional amendment, in part, says no “law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”
The law, which was placed on the ballot via signatures, is a response to the Florida Legislature and DeSantis passing a law that largely prevents abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. That law took effect May 1.
RELATED: DeSantis using state money, time and his power to fight abortion rights measure | Path to the Polls: Is Gov. DeSantis violating the law in Florida’s abortion battle?
While Florida’s six-week law is considered one of the country’s strictest abortion restrictions, it includes exceptions for a pregnant woman’s health and for cases of rape and incest up to 15 weeks of pregnancy.
But supporters of the measure contend that the documentation required to satisfy the exceptions is so onerous that many patients can’t meet the requirements.
If passed: The Florida Constitution would include language protecting the right to reproductive choice up to the point of viability and at other times to protect the health of the mother.
If failed: The current six-week abortion ban would remain Florida law. Florida would be one of the first states to reject abortion rights in a ballot measure since Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Amendment 5 - Passed
Amendment 5, which will add language to the constitution to adjust the value of homestead exemptions, tying the changes to inflation, has passed.
A homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of a property for the homeowner -- as long as the property is the homeowner’s permanent residence.
Proponents of Amendment 5 say that the cost of housing has continued to go up in Florida and tying homestead exemptions to inflation would ease the tax burden on Floridians as they try to keep up with rising prices.
Those against Amendment 5 say the reduction in property tax revenue could have a significant impact on local governments, which rely heavily on that revenue to fund programs and public services.
If it passes: The first $25,000 of your homestead exemption would be indexed with inflation, so when inflation goes up, the homestead exemption goes up as well. The amount of the exemption might increase as costs and prices go up.
If it fails: The flat $25,000 homestead exemption would remain in place.
Amendment 6 - Failed
Amendment 6, which asked voters if they wanted to repeal a portion of the state constitution related to public financing for statewide campaigns, has failed.
The idea behind the original provision was to create competitiveness for candidates who weren’t necessarily wealthy if they were running for governor or any of the statewide Cabinet seats.
It made public matching funds available for those offices up to a certain amount.
That would’ve been a significant change because in each of the past elections -- 2022, 2018, 2014, dating back to 2000 -- the first year the matching funds were available -- the statewide office candidates have, for the most part, accepted the matching funds.
If passed: It would’ve repealed the public campaign financing program, which makes available state matching money to candidates for governor and Cabinet seats.
If failed: The public campaign financing program would remain in place and candidates running for statewide office in 2026 would be eligible to use the matching fund system.
The News Service of Florida & The Associated Press contributed to this report.