| 1 | House Joint Resolution |
| 2 | A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 5 of |
| 3 | Article VI of the State Constitution to prescribe |
| 4 | additional circumstances in which electors may vote in a |
| 5 | primary election regardless of party affiliation. |
| 6 |
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| 7 | Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 8 |
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| 9 | That the following amendment to Section 5 of Article VI of |
| 10 | the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to |
| 11 | the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next |
| 12 | general election or at an earlier special election specifically |
| 13 | authorized by law for that purpose: |
| 14 | ARTICLE VI |
| 15 | SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS |
| 16 | SECTION 5. Primary, general, and special elections.-- |
| 17 | (a) A general election shall be held in each county on the |
| 18 | first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even- |
| 19 | numbered year to choose a successor to each elective state and |
| 20 | county officer whose term will expire before the next general |
| 21 | election and, except as provided herein, to fill each vacancy in |
| 22 | elective office for the unexpired portion of the term. A general |
| 23 | election may be suspended or delayed due to a state of emergency |
| 24 | or impending emergency pursuant to general law. Special |
| 25 | elections and referenda shall be held as provided by law. |
| 26 | (b) If all candidates for an office have the same party |
| 27 | affiliation and the winner will have either no opposition in the |
| 28 | general election or opposition only from a write-in candidate, |
| 29 | then all qualified electors, regardless of party affiliation, |
| 30 | may vote in the primary elections for that office. |
| 31 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be |
| 32 | placed on the ballot: |
| 33 | CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT |
| 34 | ARTICLE VI, SECTION 5 |
| 35 | OPEN PRIMARY ELECTION; ADDITIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.--Proposing |
| 36 | an amendment to the State Constitution that will permit all |
| 37 | electors regardless of party affiliation to vote in any primary |
| 38 | election for an office, in the same manner as currently |
| 39 | permitted when the winner of the primary will be unopposed in |
| 40 | the general election, if the winner of the primary will be |
| 41 | opposed in the general election by a write-in candidate only. |