Defending The Citizen Initiative Process

The citizen initiative process is a right that belongs to the people of Florida. Since 1968, Floridians have used this process to advance policies when the Legislature has refused to listen to our priorities. In recent years, the Legislature has attacked this right by adding unnecessary rules, timelines, and costs to weaken this section of the state constitution. This has happened because Floridians have banded together to pass policies that legislative leadership do not like; initiatives like the legalization of medical marijuana, restoration of voting rights for Floridians who have paid their debts to society, and $15 minimum wage.

The Florida Constitution protects the power of the people - not just the few in Legislature. This Legislative Session, leadership has proposed legislation that would limit our right to direct democracy by making it nearly impossible for Floridians to mobilize, gather petitions, and get these initiatives on the ballot. Gathering petitions can cost millions of dollars but SB1890 would limit fundraising efforts for these ballot initiatives, effectively blocking initiatives from ever getting on the ballot. This is an affront to our democracy. SB1890 is awaiting final passage in the Florida Senate.

Additionally, HJR61 & SJR1238 would increase the vote threshold required to pass these citizen initiatives, from 60% to 66%. Each of these pieces of legislation are focused on dismantling the citizen initiative process all together.

You can take action & raise awareness about this legislation by using our digital toolkit, which includes social media graphics, sample social media messages, and news articles to share with your network.

Join us in our effort to #DefendDemocracyFL & #StopSB1890

 Sample Social Media Messages

Floridians voted to support:

✅ Legal Medical Marijuana

✅ Voting Rights Restoration

✅ $15 Minimum Wage

But Florida’s GOP leadership thinks they know better than voters. Call your legislators and tell them to protect our right to direct democracy by voting NO on SB1890 & HB699.

The citizen initiative process allows the will of the voters to be heard when the Legislature refuses to listen. Our right to direct democracy is at stake. #StopSB1890 #DefendDemocracyFL

Some legislators do not want the voters telling them what to do. That’s why they try to keep popular ballot initiatives like the legalization of medical marijuana & $15 minimum wage off the ballot. Our State Constitution belongs to the people, not the few in power.

The Florida Constitution protects the power of the people - not just the few in Legislature. SB 1890 & HB 699 will take away our power to directly participate in our democracy by dismantling the citizen initiative process in Florida. #DefendDemocracyFL

Over the past 3 years, the Legislature has made it increasingly more difficult for Floridians to mobilize and improve our state. SB 1890 & HB 699 would make it impossible. We must protect the citizen initiative process in Florida.

Citizen initiatives are one of the few ways Floridians can directly participate in our democracy when the Legislature refuses to take up the issues we care about. SB 1890 & HB 699 seek to destroy this process entirely. #DefendDemocracyFL

Florida’s GOP-controlled Legislature is attempting to limit our right to direct democracy by making it nearly impossible for Floridians to mobilize and pass citizen-led ballot initiatives. Our democracy is non-negotiable. #StopSB1890

The citizen initiative process is a right that belongs to the people of Florida, enshrined in our State Constitution. But GOP legislators want to silence your voice by destroying our right to directly participate in our democracy. We cannot let that happen. #DefendDemocracyFL

Direct democracy is under attack in the Florida Capitol. GOP legislators want to protect their own power by silencing our voices and destroying the citizen initiative process. #StopSB1890 #DefendDemocracyFL

Florida’s constitution belongs to the people, not the few in power. But SB1890 & HB699 will make it nearly impossible for citizen initiatives to get on the ballot. This legislation is not about defending the constitution, it’s about silencing the voices of Floridians.

RT if you agree:

Florida’s constitution belongs to the people, not the powerful. #StopSB1890

well, would you look at the time...

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      11     ^      1
  10         |          2
9           ⊙----> the legislature is destroying 
   8                    4    ballot initiatives again
       7           5       
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