1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to vote NO on SB 7016, which proposes harmful restrictions on Florida's citizen-led constitutional amendment process. This legislation is an undemocratic power grab that undermines the voices of Floridians and our ability to enact popular policies when politicians fail to act. The proposed changes, such as eliminating paid petition circulators and allowing partisan language on ballot summaries, would make it nearly impossible for citizen-led initiatives to qualify for the ballot. This directly contradicts the principles of direct democracy enshrined in our state's constitution. Thanks to previous citizen-led amendments, Florida has raised the minimum wage, enacted term limits, protected the environment, legalized medical marijuana, created universal pre-K, and passed other critical reforms. These initiatives reflect the will of the people when our elected representatives prioritize special interests over constituents. Citizen-led amendments already face a high bar for ballot qualification. Rather than further restricting this process, we should be safeguarding and facilitating robust civic engagement. Attempts to rig the system against citizens reek of the very institutionalized corruption these amendments have aimed to curb. I urge you to stand with Floridians and our democratic values by voting NO on SB 7016. Protect our constitutional rights and ability to pursue citizen-led policy reforms through direct democracy. The people's voice must be heard.