- Oct 17, 2011
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Florida voters technically have the power to place constitutional amendments directly on the ballot, but a new 2025 law is fueling debate over whether that right has become too difficult to use.
State officials announced over the weekend that all 22 active citizen-led ballot initiatives failed to qualify for the 2026 general election ballot, meaning proposals ranging from open primaries to changes in legislative sessions will not go before voters.
The development comes after lawmakers approved HB 1205 last year, a sweeping overhaul of Florida’s initiative petition process that tightened rules for signature gathering, imposed stricter deadlines, increased fines and penalties, and expanded paperwork requirements for petition sponsors and circulators.
But critics say the outcome confirms their warnings that the Legislature went too far, effectively blocking citizen-led efforts by changing the rules midstream.
State officials announced over the weekend that all 22 active citizen-led ballot initiatives failed to qualify for the 2026 general election ballot, meaning proposals ranging from open primaries to changes in legislative sessions will not go before voters.
The development comes after lawmakers approved HB 1205 last year, a sweeping overhaul of Florida’s initiative petition process that tightened rules for signature gathering, imposed stricter deadlines, increased fines and penalties, and expanded paperwork requirements for petition sponsors and circulators.
But critics say the outcome confirms their warnings that the Legislature went too far, effectively blocking citizen-led efforts by changing the rules midstream.
