Floridians approved better wages and class sizes. Lawmakers want to curb their voice
Miami Herald
By Zelalem Adefris
This article originally appeared in the Miami Herald.
In 2018, through a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment, voters approved the automatic restoration of ex-felons’ right to vote. But the Legislature has thwarted voters’ intent ever since.
Getty Images
In Florida, everyday people can help shape our democracy through citizen-led ballot initiatives. This process has been used time and again to push forward policies and reforms backed by the people themselves. We’ve got a real history of coming together and using our collective voices to make impactful change.
It was a citizen-led initiative that cut class sizes to tackle overcrowding in Florida schools. It was the people who pushed through universal voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) for every 4-year old. It was a citizen-led initiative that raised Florida’s way too low minimum wage — giving workers better outcomes and a fighting chance. And it was the people who restored voting rights to 1.5 million people with some felony convictions.
Now, Florida lawmakers want to take all that power away.
There are bills moving through both the House and Senate, specifically Senate Bill 7016/ House Bill 1205, that are meant to cripple the citizen-led ballot process. Instead of building up this popular democratic tool, Tallahassee is trying to shut it down — handing more power to themselves and their big-money backers.
We gotta let them know: the power still belongs with the people.
Florida already has some of the hardest rules in the country for passing citizen constitutional amendments. You need 60% voter approval to pass one here. Most states only ask for 50%. Now lawmakers want to pile on more crazy requirements that’ll make it almost impossible for normal folks to bring forth any new ideas.
These new rules include a $1 million bond — yes, $1 million just to get an voter initiative on the ballot—and tighter deadlines and other nonsense that don’t help nobody. I believe it’s nothing but a way to keep regular Floridians quiet.
Our voices won’t be silenced.
If the Legislature won’t fix the problems that matter to us, we’ve got the right to put forward the solutions ourselves. That’s why citizen-led initiatives exist. That’s why they matter so much. Now, lawmakers wanna take that tool out of our hands.
It’s anti-democratic, plain and simple. Citizen-led amendments is how we’ve made Florida better in the past, and it’s how we’ll keep improving it in the future. If we let them take that away, we’re giving up one of the few direct ways we can make change in this state.
It’s not just about one bill or one issue. It’s about power. Who has it. And who lawmakers think should have it.
We have to fight this. We must stand up to the latest attack on Florida voters. Every person in this state deserves the right to participate in the process, to be heard, to shape what the future looks like.
Democracy only works when the people have a real say.
If lawmakers in Tallahassee cared about fairness or integrity in the process, they’d be making it easier, not harder, for people to get involved. They’d be encouraging public engagement — not shutting it down. But, instead, they’re protecting their own seats, their corporate donors and a broken status quo.
We don’t have to accept it.
When regular people have come together in Florida, we’ve proven what we can do. We’ve protected education, expanded rights, lifted up working families. All without waiting on politicians to do the right thing.
They want us to feel powerless. But we’re not.
Now’s the time to fight for what’s ours. Let’s show up, speak out, and make sure they remember who really holds the power in this state.
Zelalem Adefris has served as the CEO of Catalyst Miami since April 2023. Catalyst Miami’s mission is to build power with frontline communities throughout Miami-Dade County to collectively advance justice and achieve shared prosperity.
By Zelalem Adefris
This article originally appeared in the Miami Herald.
In 2018, through a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment, voters approved the automatic restoration of ex-felons’ right to vote. But the Legislature has thwarted voters’ intent ever since.
Getty Images
In Florida, everyday people can help shape our democracy through citizen-led ballot initiatives. This process has been used time and again to push forward policies and reforms backed by the people themselves. We’ve got a real history of coming together and using our collective voices to make impactful change.
It was a citizen-led initiative that cut class sizes to tackle overcrowding in Florida schools. It was the people who pushed through universal voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) for every 4-year old. It was a citizen-led initiative that raised Florida’s way too low minimum wage — giving workers better outcomes and a fighting chance. And it was the people who restored voting rights to 1.5 million people with some felony convictions.
Now, Florida lawmakers want to take all that power away.
There are bills moving through both the House and Senate, specifically Senate Bill 7016/ House Bill 1205, that are meant to cripple the citizen-led ballot process. Instead of building up this popular democratic tool, Tallahassee is trying to shut it down — handing more power to themselves and their big-money backers.
We gotta let them know: the power still belongs with the people.
Florida already has some of the hardest rules in the country for passing citizen constitutional amendments. You need 60% voter approval to pass one here. Most states only ask for 50%. Now lawmakers want to pile on more crazy requirements that’ll make it almost impossible for normal folks to bring forth any new ideas.
These new rules include a $1 million bond — yes, $1 million just to get an voter initiative on the ballot—and tighter deadlines and other nonsense that don’t help nobody. I believe it’s nothing but a way to keep regular Floridians quiet.
Our voices won’t be silenced.
If the Legislature won’t fix the problems that matter to us, we’ve got the right to put forward the solutions ourselves. That’s why citizen-led initiatives exist. That’s why they matter so much. Now, lawmakers wanna take that tool out of our hands.
It’s anti-democratic, plain and simple. Citizen-led amendments is how we’ve made Florida better in the past, and it’s how we’ll keep improving it in the future. If we let them take that away, we’re giving up one of the few direct ways we can make change in this state.
It’s not just about one bill or one issue. It’s about power. Who has it. And who lawmakers think should have it.
We have to fight this. We must stand up to the latest attack on Florida voters. Every person in this state deserves the right to participate in the process, to be heard, to shape what the future looks like.
Democracy only works when the people have a real say.
If lawmakers in Tallahassee cared about fairness or integrity in the process, they’d be making it easier, not harder, for people to get involved. They’d be encouraging public engagement — not shutting it down. But, instead, they’re protecting their own seats, their corporate donors and a broken status quo.
We don’t have to accept it.
When regular people have come together in Florida, we’ve proven what we can do. We’ve protected education, expanded rights, lifted up working families. All without waiting on politicians to do the right thing.
They want us to feel powerless. But we’re not.
Now’s the time to fight for what’s ours. Let’s show up, speak out, and make sure they remember who really holds the power in this state.
Zelalem Adefris has served as the CEO of Catalyst Miami since April 2023. Catalyst Miami’s mission is to build power with frontline communities throughout Miami-Dade County to collectively advance justice and achieve shared prosperity.
