CRC - 2017                                                P 6009
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Style and Drafting
       
       350-00440-17                                          20176009__
    1  
    2                             REVISION 9                            
    3  
    4         A proposal to amend Section 5 of Article VI of the
    5         State Constitution to authorize all qualified
    6         electors, regardless of party affiliation, to vote in
    7         a partisan primary election for an office if all the
    8         candidates for the office have the same party
    9         affiliation and the winner will be opposed only by one
   10         or more write-in candidates in the general election.
   11          
   12  Be It Proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission of
   13  Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 5 of Article VI of the State Constitution is
   16  amended to read:
   17                             ARTICLE VI                            
   18                       SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS                      
   19         SECTION 5. Primary, general, and special elections.—
   20         (a) A general election shall be held in each county on the
   21  first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even
   22  numbered year to choose a successor to each elective state and
   23  county officer whose term will expire before the next general
   24  election and, except as provided herein, to fill each vacancy in
   25  elective office for the unexpired portion of the term. A general
   26  election may be suspended or delayed due to a state of emergency
   27  or impending emergency pursuant to general law. Special
   28  elections and referenda shall be held as provided by law.
   29         (b) If all candidates for an office have the same party
   30  affiliation and the winner will have either no opposition in the
   31  general election, or opposition only from one or more write-in
   32  candidates, then all qualified electors, regardless of party
   33  affiliation, may vote in the primary elections for that office.
   34  
   35  BE IT FURTHER PROPOSED that the following statement be placed on
   36  the ballot:
   37  
   38                      CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT                     
   39                        ARTICLE VI, SECTION 5                      
   40         PRIMARY ELECTIONS.—Currently, all qualified voters,
   41  regardless of party affiliation, may vote in primary elections
   42  when all candidates have the same party affiliation and there is
   43  no opposition, including write-in candidates, in the general
   44  election. This amendment provides that the presence of write-in
   45  candidates on the ballot will not prevent all qualified voters
   46  from voting in primary elections.