New Florida law adds hurdles to voter-led ballot campaigns

Florida voters volition present look caller hurdles erstwhile trying to enactment projected laws connected the ballot done citizen-led petition drives.

“They are dismantling 1 of the past remaining tools mundane Floridians person to cheque their power,” said Holly Bullard , co-chair of Florida Decides Healthcare.

The law — signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis Friday evening — tightens rules connected however ballot initiatives qualify.

It comes arsenic petition campaigns are already underway connected issues similar Medicaid expansion, termination rights and adult-use marijuana.

“These are not tweaks, they are traps,” said Florida Decides Healthcare Executive Director Mitch Emerson.

The radical Florida Decides Healthcare, which is starring the Medicaid enlargement campaign, filed a suit to halt the changes.

DeSantis, referencing marijuana legalization efforts, said, “It should not beryllium successful our constitution.”

He cited concerns astir signature fraud and firm power arsenic reasons for signing the measure into law.

Among the caller restrictions, voters signing petitions indispensable present see much idiosyncratic ID, similar a driver’s licence oregon Social Security number.

In addition, petition gatherers indispensable beryllium Florida residents, U.S. citizens, and person nary felony convictions. Amendment sponsors indispensable besides station a $1 cardinal bond.

The instrumentality faced vocal absorption during the legislative process and passed mostly on enactment lines. Protesters were escorted retired of hearings arsenic tensions ran high.

Now, successful summation to ineligible challenges, different petition is circulating — this 1 aimed astatine overturning the caller restrictions altogether.

“That instrumentality is going to marque it astir intolerable to person a citizen-led petition present successful the authorities of Florida,” State Sen. Lori Berman said Sunday connected This Week successful South Florida.

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