What you should know about partisan elections

Amid the debate over changes to Florida’s ballot this election season, one specific question is grabbing residents’ attention – whether school board elections should be partisan rather than nonpartisan, as is currently the case.

Amendment 1, titled “Partisan Elections for County School Board Members,” on the November ballot aims to make school board elections partisan. But what does that mean and when would the change take effect if passed?

What does “partisan” mean? What is a partisan election?

The official definition of “partisan” is strong support for a party, cause or person. Impartial means being free from party affiliation, bias or label.

As far as elections are concerned, in partisan elections it is possible for labels to be placed on the ballot indicating which political party the candidates belong to or which candidates are nominated.

What are the current rules for voting in a partisan election in Florida?

To qualify as a candidate for public office in Florida, a partisan candidate must submit a written statement identifying the political party to which he or she belongs. The candidate must also provide:

You have been a member of the political party for 365 days before the start of the qualifying period preceding the general election for which you wish to qualify;
They have paid all the taxes levied against them by the executive committee of their political party.

A candidate with no party affiliation must declare that he or she “has not been a registered member of a political party in the last 365 days prior to the start of the qualifying period prior to the general election.”

See Amendment 1, “Partisan School Board Members,” on the ballot

HJR 31 proposes “amendments to the state constitution requiring that members of a county school board be elected in a partisan rather than a nonpartisan election.”

The amendment is sponsored by the Florida Legislature.

It should be noted that this measure is not a reform that can be implemented by the Florida Legislature and therefore requires implementation of a constitutional ballot initiative, according to the Hendry County elections director.

If the ballot measure passes, lawmakers could decide next session to consider a law, which would have to be signed by the governor, telling state agencies how to “implement” or enforce the change.

What does a “yes” or “no” vote on Amendment 1 mean?

Vote yes This change would make county school board elections partisan and candidates’ political parties would have their names listed on the ballot.

Vote no would keep the races impartial.

If Amendment 1 is adopted, when would it come into force?

The analysis says the change will take effect after voter approval.

The proposed change would apply only to elections on or after Nov. 3, 2026, and adds that earlier primaries are permitted to nominate candidates for inclusion in the 2026 general election.

How many votes do the Florida amendments need to pass?

For Amendment 1 or any of the proposed amendments to be adopted, it would need to receive 60% of the vote.

Did Florida previously have partisan school board elections? Not since 2000

In analyzing the amendment, officials explained that school board elections have only been nonpartisan for about 24 years.

“In 1998, Florida voters approved Amendment 11, an election reform package proposed by the 1997-98 Constitutional Revision Commission that provided for the election of county school board members in nonpartisan elections,” it said. “Therefore, since 2000, the members of the school board have been elected by the votes of qualified voters in non-partisan elections and, in accordance with legal provisions, have served for four years each.”

When does early voting begin? Final deadlines to watch before the 2024 Florida general election

Early voting has already begun! There are only two important dates left to remember this election season:

Saturday November 2nd: Early voting ends nationwide; However, some counties are offering an additional day on November 3rd.
Tuesday, November 5th: Election day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the time zone where you live. All voters still in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast their vote, no matter how long it takes.

Contributor: CA Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida