Big things happened with some items on the top and bottom of your ballot last night. First, 8 of the 11 ballot measures failed this year.
Only three of these ballot measures passed:
- Amendment 2: Counties and municipalities will now have the option to offer an additional combat-related property tax exemption for totally or partially disabled veterans who were not Florida residents when they entered the military.
- Amendment 9: Now, counties and municipalities will offer a total or partial property tax exemption to the spouses of military veterans or first responders who died in the line of duty.
- Amendment 11: After last night, counties and municipalities will have the option to offer an additional homestead tax exemption to low-income senior citizens on homes valued at less than $250,000.
The more controversial amendments (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12) all died, though.
- Amendment 1: would have added language to the state Constitution that says the state cannot force any person, employer or health care provider to participate in a health care system, but it didn't pass.
- Amendment 3: The state will not be calculating taxes based on population growth and inflation.
- Amendment 4: The state will not see more property tax rates for municipalities aimed at investors, second-home owners.
- Amendment 5: The State Legislature will not be approving Supreme Court Justices.
- Amendment 6: The state Constitution will continue to have an explicit right to privacy.
- Amendment 8: A ban on the state's direct funding of religious institution will remain in the state Constitution.
- Amendment 10: The state will not be giving out an additional tax exemption for seniors.
- Amendment 12: The Florida Student Association will continue to serve as the student member of the Board of Governors of the State University System and the Board of Governors will not create a council of state university student body presidents.
Here are some of the big race results, too:
In the race for the U.S. Senate, Sen. Bill Nelson won his third term in office. He beat Connie Mack.
In the race for U.S. House District 22, former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel beat Adam Hasner.
Joe Garcia ousted sitting congressman David Rivera, who has been embroiled in ethics scandals as of late.
