As Floridians prepare to cast their votes toward their respective candidates, a significant number of still do not know what their ballot contains. In this divisive, controversial and highly contentious presidential election, people often do not focus on the other issues Florida voters will face on the 2016 ballot.
President of the United States
- Pro-choice
- Believes marijuana legalization should be left up to the states
- For immigration reform with a path to full citizenship
- For investment in renewable, clean energy
- For strengthening the military, Syrian no-fly zones
- Pro-life, for banning abortion in all cases except rape, incest and the mother’s life
- For medical marijuana, against recreational marijuana
- For the construction of a border wall, deportation of 11 million illegal aliens, ban on muslim immigrants until the screening process is reformed
- Supports the Keystone Pipeline, fracking and offshore drilling
- Against the Geneva Conventions and international law
- Pro-choice
- For legal marijuana, for both medical and recreational purposes
- For immigration reform with a path to full citizenship
- For legislation protecting our resources and environment
- For adopting a policy of isolation
- Pro-choice
- For legal marijuana, for both medical and recreational purposes
- For offering amnesty to illegal immigrants
- For heavy investment in clean energy, an end to fracking, offshore drilling and all reliance on fossil fuels once clean energy becomes more sustainable
- For ending all war
- Pro-life, for banning abortion in all cases
- For decriminalization, but not legalization of marijuana
- For strengthening the border, deportation of 11 million illegal aliens, ban on muslim immigrants until the screening process is reformed
- Supports Keystone Pipeline, fracking and offshore drilling, calls for an end to tax credits and subsidies to clean energy industries
- Supports pulling out of all foreign conflicts unless strategically threatened
- Pro-choice
- For legal marijuana, for both medical and recreational purposes
- For granting illegal immigrants citizenship and access to government-subsidized healthcare
- For gradual supplantation of non-renewable energy with clean energy
- For adopting a policy of isolation
United States Senator
- Pro-life, for banning abortion in all cases
- For medical marijuana, against recreational marijuana
- Against gay marriage
- Pro-choice
- For legal marijuana, for both medical and recreational purposes
- For LGBT rights
- Against dark, unaccountable money in politics
- Pro-choice
- For immediate legalization of all drugs
- For LGBT rights
- Against all special interest money in politics
- Pro-choice
- For modernization of infrastructure
- For LGBT rights
- For eliminating the Department of Education
- For harsher sentences in human trafficking
- Against all special interest money in politics
- End the War on Drugs
- For LGBT rights
- Against all special interest money in politics
- For peace in the Middle East
- For pulling out all troops from the Middle East
Representative in Congress District 7
- For further tax cuts for corporations and working class
- For business deregulation
- For Keystone XL Pipeline, against investment in clean energy
- Against all new gun control legislation
- For tax cuts for middle class, closing tax loopholes for corporations and wealthy individuals
- For business deregulation
- For investment in clean energy
- Pro gun control (i.e. universal background checks, “no fly, no buy“)
State Attorney 9th Judicial Circuit
The Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit serves Orange and Osceola counties in Central Florida, currently represented by The Honorable Jeffrey L. Ashton. In a major upset, Aramis Ayala recently ousted Ashton. She now runs uncontested.
State Senator District 13
- Supports equal pay for equal work
- Opposes standardized testing and funding for charter schools
- Opposes fracking
- For workplace non-discrimination laws
- Supports equal pay for equal work
- Opposes standardized testing
- Opposes fracking
- For workplace non-discrimination laws
State Representative District 47
- For giving education back to teachers and promoting charter schools
- For cutting the Tangible Tax
- Against fracking
- For moving away from standardized testing and giving education back to teachers
- Pro gun control (i.e. universal background checks, assault rifle ban, “no fly, no buy”)
- Against fracking
Orange County Clerk of Courts
Seeking reelection to the position of Orange County Clerk of Courts, Democratic candidate Tiffany Moore Russell runs against independent Daisy Arus.
Sheriff of Orange County
- “I take great pride in the fact that Orlando, Florida is my home and that I grew up in the very same community that I have committed 35 years of my life in the realm of public safety and service to the community. And because this is my home, I will do everything necessary to maintain the quality of life that makes Central Florida, not only one of the world’s premier tourist destinations, but one of the finest places in the United States to live, work, and visit.”
- “You deserve better. The current Sheriff of Orange County is a politician. I am, and always will be a police officer at heart, interested foremost in protecting your safety. I am running to replace the current Sheriff of Orange County because our community needs someone who will dedicate 100% of his efforts to the job of Sheriff, and NOT divert his attention to outside organizations in the hopes of furthering a personal political agenda.”
Orange County Property Appraiser
Democrat Rick Singh seeks reelection as the Orange County Property Appraiser. Candidate for the Republican Party, newcomer Edward DeAguilera, opposes him. The property appraiser is tasked with the location, identification and determination of the fair market value of all property within a county for the purpose of taxation.
Orange County Tax Collector
For the office of Orange County Tax Collector, Scott Randolph runs unopposed as candidate for the Democratic Party, anticipating his second term.
Supervisor of Elections
- “Thank you for allowing me to serve you as your Orange County Supervisor of Elections for the past 19 years. As we look ahead to November 8, 2016, and all of the important decisions that will be made on that day, I give you my promise that Orange County will be ready and prepared to facilitate a great election. I also request your vote to keep me as your Supervisor of Elections.”
- “I believe efforts toward fulfilling its mission to ‘Ensure the integrity of the electoral process. Enhance public confidence. Encourage citizen participation’ has fallen short. We believe it is time for a fresh approach to leadership.”
Florida Supreme Court Justices
The ballot asks whether the state shall retain three of the Florida Supreme Court justices, in addition to four of the judges from the Fifth District Court of Appeals. The justices in question include Charles T. Canady, Jorge Labarga and Ricky L. Polston. The judges include Jay Cohen, James A. Edwards, Brian Lambert and Vincent G. Torpy Jr.
Circuit Judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit
Subsequently, the ballot lists all the candidates for electable judicial positions, starting with Circuit Judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit. Luis Calderón and Joseph Haynes run against each other for Ninth Circuit Judge. Neither have any party affiliation by default, as their position requires their neutrality.
County Judge
The ballot lists candidates for County Judges, divided by group. For County Judge Group 1, the candidates include Eric DuBois and Michael Gibson. County Judge Group 4 lists candidates David Johnson and Tom Young. The last group, County Judge Group 5, lists candidates Frank George and Evellen Jewett.
The Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor
The ballot subsequently lists the candidates for supervisors the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District. The Soil and Water Conservation District is a subdivision of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services. As stated on their website, their mission is “to provide information about best management practices to conserve and protect natural resources to private land users and water consumers.”
Group 1
- Argues clean drinking water is a basic human right
- Seeks to hold businesses accountable for pollution
- Advocates animal welfare
- Opposes fracking
- Against State Amendment 1
- Seeks to protect the environment
Group 3
- Aims to reach middle ground with legislators
- Promises to utilize resources while protecting the environment
- Honored to serve in 2012
- Proponent of the FRAC Act
- Appalled by the situation in Flint, Michigan
- Aims to work with public and private landowners
Group 5
- Expand the impact and breadth of the ENVIROTHON program
- Clean our Orange County Lakes
- Monitor certain pesticides and fertilizers
- Wishes to preserve the environment and ecosystem of Florida
- Declares clean water in Florida a nonpartisan issue
Proposed Amendments to STATE CONSTITUTION
Amendment 1 allows for the purchase of solar energy directly from third-party solar providers. In essence, the amendment reinforces the existing laws on solar energy in Florida’s constitution. Opponents of such argue that this blocks economic growth, and allows for large energy companies such as Duke Energy, a major contributor to the bill, to tighten its grip on energy sales in Florida.
With so many states opting to legalize marijuana for both medicinal and recreational purposes, another hot-button issue this election cycle is whether or not Florida should legalize medical marijuana. Amendment 2 renders access to cannabis a constitutional right for those with “debilitating” conditions like cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, upon a doctor’s prescription.
Amendment 3 would extend the pre-existing property tax-exempt status of deceased first responders’ spouses to qualifying disabled first responders. This makes it so that if a first responder become “totally and permanently disabled,” he shall receive a property tax exemption. For this proposition, there is neither support nor opposition from any organized group.
Amendment 5 ensures that qualifying senior citizens living in low-income households can not be denied a property tax exemption if the value of their home is greater than $250,000. If passed, this will take effect Jan. 1, 2017, but is retroactive to 2013.
Proposed Amendments to ORANGE COUNTY CHARTER
The first of the proposed charter amendments adds 10 additional requirements to the Citizen Initiative process in order for Citizens Initiatives to be placed on the ballot. This would require each of the following: limiting the initiative to a single subject, a public hearing, a financial impact statement, a minimum of 10 percent of registered voters in every district, revelation of signature gatherers’ status as paid or unpaid, the addition of a signature withdrawal process, meeting a newly deadline, in addition to several other stipulations. Critics of this amendment contend that this will suppress the community’s impact and voice for future elections.
Furthermore, the second proposed amendment suggests altering the constitution to establish term limits of four consecutive 4-year terms for Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller. This would also render those holding the aforementioned positions nonpartisan, elected charter officers.
Lastly, the third amendment proposes that if any court ruling previously rendered any charter amendment similar to the second charter amendment unenforceable, and if a later court action determines such a provision lawful and enforceable, the court will immediately restore and enforce said amendment to the furthest extent of the law.
Registered voters can cast their ballots on Election Day, Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.