🗳 Florida 2026 · Plain English · No Opinion
Ballot Decoder
Every ballot measure decoded into plain English. What it does, who supports it, who opposes it, who funded it, and how confusing the language actually is. You decide.
Nonpartisan: CivicLedger does not endorse any candidate or ballot position. All For/Against arguments are sourced from official campaign materials and public statements. Funding data sourced from Florida Division of Elections campaign finance records.
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Florida Primary Election
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 · Polls open 7am–7pm · Bring valid photo ID
-- Days Away
No Statewide Ballot Measures on the August 18 Primary
The August 18, 2026 Florida Primary is a candidate election only. Constitutional amendments and ballot measures appear on the November 3 General Election ballot — not the primary. Check the Nov 3 tab for confirmed 2026 statewide measures.
View November 3 Measures →
Key Races on the August 18 Primary Ballot
These are the major candidate races on the August 18 primary. Click any race to research the candidates on CivicLedger.
State · Republican Primary
Governor of Florida
9 candidates · Ron DeSantis term-limited
Research Candidates →
State · Both Parties Primary
Attorney General
Ashley Moody vacated seat for U.S. Senate
Research Candidates →
State · Both Parties Primary
U.S. Senate — Florida
Rick Scott seat up — competitive both sides
Research Candidates →
Local · Non-Partisan
Miami Gardens City Council
Seats 2, 4, and At-Large 6 · See The Arena
View in The Arena →
General Election
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · Polls open 7am–7pm
⚠️ Only 1 measure confirmed so far — Agriculture Property Tax Exemption (HJR 1215). Additional measures may be added pending special session results.
N1
Agriculture & Agritourism Property Tax Exemption
StatewideLegislature-ReferredHJR 1215
›
📖 Plain English
This amendment would exempt tangible personal property — equipment, machinery, livestock, tools — used in agriculture and agritourism operations from property taxes. This means Florida farmers and agritourism businesses (like u-pick farms, farm stays, and agricultural festivals) would no longer pay property tax on their working equipment and animals.📊 Impact Meter — Who This Affects Most
Agriculture
High
Rural Areas
High
County Budget
Med
Urban Areas
Low
🧠 Language Confusion Score
The term "tangible personal property" is a legal term that most people don't use in daily life. The amendment is clearer once you understand that phrase means physical equipment, tools, and livestock — not land.
5/10
Moderate
Those In Favor Say
- Florida farmers already face high operating costs and competitive pressure from other states
- Agritourism creates jobs and keeps agricultural land from being sold to developers
- This follows similar exemptions already in place in other agricultural states
- Passed both chambers of the Florida Legislature with strong bipartisan support
Those Opposed Say
- Reduces county tax revenue that funds schools, roads, and public services
- Large corporate farming operations benefit more than small family farms
- Definition of "agritourism" could be stretched to include non-agricultural businesses
- Other taxpayers may face higher rates to compensate for lost revenue
Amends Article VII, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution to authorize the Legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation the assessed value of tangible personal property used predominantly for bona fide agricultural purposes or used for agritourism activity as defined by general law. Passed by the Florida Legislature as HJR 1215 during the 2026 session.
⏳
More Measures May Be Added
A special legislative session is expected to address homestead property tax elimination. If passed, it will appear on this ballot. Check back as certification deadlines approach.
What Didn't Make the Ballot
22 Citizen Initiatives · All Failed · February 2, 2026
Why All 22 Failed — The Real Story
In May 2025, Governor DeSantis signed House Bill 1205 — a sweeping law that dramatically raised the cost and legal risk of collecting petition signatures. Signature verification fees jumped from an average of $0.87 per petition to $3.77+ per signature statewide — with some counties raising fees by over 2,600%. The law also imposed felony penalties for collecting more than 25 signatures without state registration, banned non-Florida residents from collecting signatures, and added stricter form requirements that invalidated signatures missing a single field. Critics called it the most significant rollback of direct democracy in Florida history. On February 2, 2026, the Florida Department of State announced that all 22 active citizen initiatives had failed to collect the 891,523 verified signatures required by law.
The 3 That Came Closest
⚖️ Disputed — In Court
🌿 Recreational Marijuana Legalization
Smart & Safe Florida · Targeting 2028
The closest any initiative came to qualifying. Smart & Safe Florida submitted over 1.4 million raw signatures — but the state invalidated approximately 200,000 for missing the full text of the amendment, 43,000 signed by "inactive" voters, and 34,000 collected before a court stay expired. The campaign disputes the state's ruling and had an active federal lawsuit as of February 2026. Already targeting 2028.
Verified signatures: Disputed — fell short of 891,523 required
📋 Fell Short — Signatures
🏥 Medicaid Expansion
Florida Decides Healthcare · Targeting 2028
Would have required Florida to expand Medicaid coverage to low-income adults — a provision 40+ other states have already adopted. Collected 75,855 verified signatures before announcing the 2025 law made the timeline financially impossible. Already launched a 2028 campaign at floridadecideshealthcare.org.
Verified: 75,855 of 891,523 needed (8.5%)
📋 Fell Short — Signatures
💧 Right to Clean Water
Florida Right to Clean Water · Targeting 2028
Would have created a constitutional right to clean and healthy waters and allowed residents and organizations to sue state agencies for harm to lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coastal waters. Called the new restrictions "virtually impossible" for grassroots organizations and shifted focus to 2028 at floridarighttocleanwater.org.
Verified: 51,261 of 891,523 needed (5.7%)
The Other 19 — Proposed But Never Got Off the Ground
These 19 initiatives were registered with the Florida Division of Elections but never gathered more than 1,000 signatures before organizers abandoned their 2026 efforts under the new law's financial and legal burden.
Withdrawn
Abortion Rights & Reproductive Freedom Restoration
Would have enshrined the right to abortion up to viability (approximately 24 weeks) in the Florida Constitution, overturning the 6-week ban. Organizers cited the financial impossibility of meeting signature requirements under HB 1205.
Abandoned
Open Primaries — All Voters Vote
Would have allowed all registered Florida voters — including 3.9 million independents — to vote in primary elections regardless of party registration. Collapsed within weeks of HB 1205 passing due to inability to fund verification costs.
Withdrawn — Legal Challenge
Minimum Wage Increase to $18/hr by 2028
Would have raised Florida's minimum wage from $13/hr to $18/hr by 2028. Withdrawn after a circuit court ruled the ballot title was misleading. Sponsors plan to refile for 2028 with revised language.
Legislature Blocked
Independent Redistricting Commission
Would have created a citizens commission to draw legislative district maps, removing that power from the Legislature. The Legislature used its authority to block the initiative during the review period, citing conflicts with existing law.
Failed — Signatures
Rent Control & Affordable Housing Stabilization
Would have authorized local governments to enact rent stabilization ordinances. Collected approximately 480,000 signatures before the new verification fees made it financially unsustainable. The Florida Supreme Court also raised concerns about ballot summary clarity.
Abandoned
Restore Voting Rights for All Returning Citizens
Would have automatically restored voting rights upon completion of any sentence, without requiring payment of fines and fees — removing a financial barrier that affected an estimated 900,000 Floridians. Abandoned after HB 1205 made collection costs prohibitive.
Abandoned
Florida Universal Pre-K Expansion
Would have guaranteed access to free, high-quality pre-kindergarten education for all Florida 3 and 4-year-olds. Never got past the initial organizing stage under the new signature law.
Abandoned
Ban on Corporate Ownership of Single-Family Homes
Would have restricted large corporations and investment funds from purchasing single-family residential properties in Florida. Filed in response to corporate homebuying that critics say drives up housing costs.
Abandoned
Ranked-Choice Voting for Statewide Offices
Would have implemented ranked-choice voting for governor, cabinet, and U.S. Senate races in Florida. Never gained traction under the new signature requirements.
Abandoned
Florida Universal Healthcare Study Commission
Would have required the Florida Legislature to establish a commission to study and report on universal healthcare coverage options for Florida residents. Filed but never organized a signature campaign.
Abandoned
Psilocybin Therapy Legalization for Mental Health
Would have legalized supervised psilocybin therapy for mental health treatment, following Oregon's 2020 model. Filed but organizers lacked the resources to mount a signature campaign under the new law.
Abandoned
Solar Energy Rights — Remove HOA Restrictions
Would have prohibited homeowner associations and local governments from preventing residents from installing solar panels. Abandoned in early organizing stages.
Abandoned
Restore Everglades Water Rights
Would have created stronger constitutional protections for Everglades water flow and prohibited sugar industry water pollution credits from offsetting clean water requirements.
Abandoned
Paid Family & Medical Leave Guarantee
Would have guaranteed up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for Florida workers. Filed but never organized a viable signature campaign.
Abandoned
Ban on Assault-Style Weapons
Would have banned the sale, manufacture, and possession of assault-style weapons in Florida. Supporters cited the 2018 Parkland shooting. The financial barrier of HB 1205 made a statewide signature drive unaffordable.
Abandoned
Cap on Prescription Drug Prices
Would have capped the cost of insulin and other essential prescription drugs at prices paid by Canadian consumers. Never mounted a signature campaign.
Abandoned
Right to Housing — Anti-Homelessness Amendment
Would have established a constitutional right to shelter and required local governments to provide emergency housing options. Filed but abandoned in early 2025 as HB 1205 was being debated.
Abandoned
Florida Ethics Reform — Lobbyist Restrictions
Would have imposed a 6-year cooling-off period before legislators could become lobbyists and required full financial disclosure for all lobbyist contracts. Never got beyond filing stage.
Abandoned
Public Campaign Financing Expansion
Would have expanded Florida's existing public campaign financing program to include all statewide races and set stricter limits on PAC spending. Filed in 2024 but never organized a signature campaign under the new 2025 rules.
Targeting 2028? Start Now.
Florida's citizen initiative process requires starting signature collection as early as 2026 to reach the 2028 ballot. The organizations below have announced active 2028 campaigns.
CivicLedger does not endorse any candidate or ballot measure. Listed for civic awareness only.
How to Get on the Ballot in Florida
Step-by-step guide · Florida Division of Elections · 2026 Cycle
Requirements vary by office. Always verify current requirements with the Florida Division of Elections ↗ or your county Supervisor of Elections.
Running for Office — Candidate Steps
Meet Eligibility Requirements
You must be a registered Florida voter, meet the age and residency requirements for the specific office, and have no disqualifying felony convictions. Federal offices have additional constitutional requirements.
Before filing — verify with your county Supervisor of Elections
Designate a Campaign Treasurer & Open Campaign Account
Before you can raise or spend any money — even $1 — you must appoint a campaign treasurer and open a separate campaign bank account. File DS-DE 9 form with the Florida Division of Elections or your county SOE.
Must be done before any fundraising
File Qualifying Papers
During the qualifying period, file your qualifying papers with the appropriate office. For state offices this is the Florida Division of Elections. For local offices, file with your county Supervisor of Elections. You will pay a qualifying fee or submit a petition with required signatures in lieu of the fee.
⚡ 2026 Qualifying Period: June 8–12, 2026 (State) · Verify local dates with your county SOE
Pay Qualifying Fee or Submit Petition Signatures
Qualifying fees are based on a percentage of the annual salary for the office. As an alternative, you can collect petition signatures from registered voters in your district — typically 1% of registered voters.
Due by end of qualifying period
File Campaign Finance Reports
All candidates must file regular campaign finance reports disclosing all contributions and expenditures. Reports are public record. Failure to file on time results in fines of $50/day.
Ongoing — report deadlines vary by office and election cycle
Run Your Campaign
Campaign legally within Florida's campaign finance laws. All political advertisements must include the required "paid by" disclaimer. Review Florida Statute 106 for full requirements.
Primary: August 18, 2026 · General: November 3, 2026
Putting a Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot
Draft the Amendment Language
The amendment must address a single subject only. The Florida Supreme Court reviews all citizen-initiated amendments for compliance with the single-subject rule and for clarity of the ballot title and summary.
Get Florida Supreme Court Approval
Submit your proposed amendment to the Florida Supreme Court. The court reviews the ballot title (75 words max) and summary (200 words max) for clarity. The court does not rule on the merits — only whether the language fairly informs voters.
Collect 891,589 Valid Signatures
You need signatures equal to 8% of votes cast in the last presidential election, distributed across at least 14 of Florida's 27 congressional districts. Signatures must be verified by county Supervisors of Elections. Under HB 1205 (2025), verification fees now average $3.77+ per signature — making a statewide campaign cost $3.3 million or more just in fees.
⚡ For 2028 ballot — start collecting no later than early 2027
Pass with 60% of the Vote
Florida constitutional amendments require 60% approval to pass — not a simple majority. This threshold was raised from 50% by voters in 2006. This is one of the highest thresholds for citizen initiatives in the United States.
Election Day — November 2028 for general election measures