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Vote yes or no on Amendment 11? Here's what 6 Florida newspapers recommend

Maureen Kenyon
Treasure Coast Newspapers
Voters will be faced with 12 constitutional amendment proposals on the Nov. 6 ballot. Each needs at least 60 percent of votes to be enshrined in the Florida Constitution.

Voters will be faced with 12 constitutional amendment proposals on the Nov. 6 ballot. Each needs at least 60 percent of votes to be enshrined in the Florida Constitution.

With less than a month until the election, are you still unsure about what each amendment means and whether you're going to cast a "yes" or "no" vote?

If so, we'll break it down for you.

Each weekday until Oct. 30, we will highlight each amendment as well as offer the recommendations of the editorial boards of the Florida newspapers in the USA TODAY NETWORK.

Stay informed: Treasure Coast elections information

Amendment 11

This amendment has three parts:

  • Florida’s Constitution currently has language that allows the Legislature to prevent non-citizens from buying, selling, owning or inheriting property. Amendment 11 would delete this language.
  • Florida’s Constitution added the “Savings Clause” in 1885 and is one of only three states that enforces one. This clause forbids making changes to criminal sentencing laws retroactive. For example, if the Legislature changes a mandatory minimum sentence for an offense from 20 years to five years, anyone still being prosecuted for or already convicted of that offense would still have to serve 20 years. Amendment 11 repeals the Savings Clause.
  • Deletes language approving a high-speed rail. Floridians voted down the high-speed rail project in 2004, but the language was never removed.

Pensacola News Journal: No stance

Tallahassee Democrat: YES

  • Why: Amendment 11 is a good clean-up proposal, repealing some unnecessary or unenforceable facets of existing law. It is one of those mash-ups the Constitution Revision Commission threw against the wall, but all three pieces are worthy of approval.

More on why we say 'yes':Florida's constitutional amendments: Vote 'yes' on 4 and 11, 'no' on rest | Our opinion

Florida Today: YES

  • Why: The first two proposals bring the Constitution up to date as the citizenship provision isn't enforced (critics say it was enacted in the early 20th century to target Asian immigrants) and Floridians voted against high-speed rail in 2004. Repealing the Savings Clause ensures that people who committed a crime at different times serve equal sentences if the laws change. Amendment 10 supporters say it will help usher much-needed criminal justice reform, in particular when the Legislature reduces sentences for drug offenses.

TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers: NO

  • Why: While these three proposals are reasonable on their own — each represents a sensible "cleaning up" of constitutional language — we are opposed to the Constitution Revision Commission's practice of bundling them into one amendment.

Naples Daily News: NO

  • Why: The 2018 Florida Constitution Revision Commission lost its way in crafting six multiple topic amendments, referred to as bundling. Those defending the panel’s bundling decision say it has the right to present mishmash amendments to voters. Granted. By the same token, however, voters have the right to reject any bundled amendment. That’s exactly what they should do Nov. 6 with “no” votes on the five remaining bundled amendments, including Amendment 11.

Fort Myers News Press: NO

  • Why: This is another amendment that will confuse voters because of its many moving parts on deletions and repeals of constitutional items. Most of what is in this bundled amendment should not be constitutional issues in the first place.

More on why we say 'no': Editorial: Proposed amendments too much of a gamble; vote 'no' on 11 of them

Maureen Kenyon is TCPalm's trends reporter, keeping Treasure Coast residents updated on hot topics and happenings. Do you have a story to tell? Want to start a conversation? Send an email to maureen.kenyon@tcpalm.com, call 772-221-4249 or follow her on Twitter @_MaureenKenyon_.