Guest commentary: Your vote, your local schools — Vote no on Amendment 1
Amendment 1 is on the ballot in November, but for many voters it has been flying under the radar. Now is the time to learn the facts and its implications on public education.
WHAT IS AMENDMENT 1?
Amendment 1 to the Florida Constitution was placed on the November ballot by a strict party-line vote of the Florida Legislature. It calls for the partisan election of school board members starting in 2026. If passed, the amendment has the potential to disenfranchise more than 4 million Florida voters.
“Partisan politics have no place in education.”
— Constitutional Review Commission (1996)
IMPACT ON YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE
Since 1998, all registered voters — regardless of party affiliation or No Party Affiliation (NPA) — can vote in the nonpartisan primary elections for school board.
Florida is a closed primary state. If elections are made partisan and more than one party has candidates in the primary, or if there is a write-in candidate, the primary will close. Only voters registered in parties with candidates on the primary ballot will have the right to vote.
Partisan school board primaries may shut out all NPA and all minor party voters, potentially disenfranchising over 4 million Floridians. Most school board elections are decided in the primary.
FOCUS ON EDUCATION, NOT PARTISAN POLITICS
Nonpartisan school board members must appeal to all registered voters, not just those in the dominant party.
Nonpartisan school boards can work collaboratively in the best educational interests of students. They can represent the values, concerns, and issues important to the local community, rather than being beholden to partisan agendas.
Nonpartisan school board elections help maintain local control by making it less likely that candidates are funded by big money from state and national political parties that want to control the teaching and learning of our students.
VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 1
A number of the leadership team from The Purple Group of Lee County — non-partisan advocates for public schools, students, parents, and educators in the county — are available to provide more information or answer questions. They include:
– Madelon Stewart, of Fort Myers
– Jill Pellis, of Fort Myers
– Ray Clasen, of North Fort Myers
– Paula Porter, of Lehigh Acres
– Suzanne Cook, of Verandah
– Marge Cox, of Bonita Springs
– Sara Braun, of Estero
Also available is Cathie Kozik, president of the League of Women Voters of Sanibel. The League of Women Voters of Florida has recommended voting no on Amendment 1.
The Purple Group of Lee County is a non-partisan group of residents who believe high-quality public schools should welcome all students and their families as the bedrock of a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic democracy. For more information, visit on YouTube @ThePurpleGroupLeeCountyF-vw4kg.