Election 2008

Whatever your party affiliation, everyone can agree on at least one thing: the 2008 election is one of the most important elections in recent years. With a laundry list of candidates and issues on this year's ballot, and lines at voting booths  expected to be even longer, it is easy to become overwhelmed.

Here is a primer on what we need to know to cast our votes on November 4. Remember that the last day to register to vote is October 6.

What's on the Ballot?

Three referendums appear on this year's ballot in Alachua County. As of press time, Marion County's sample ballot was unavailable. Please visit their Web site, www.votemarion.com, for updates.

ALACHUA COUNTY REFERENDUMS

Wild Spaces & Public Places
If approved, this would enforce a half-cent sales tax for two years to fund Alachua County Forever’s land conservation program and recreational facilities in Alachua County, including the proposed Senior Center at Northside Park

The tax would bring in nearly $40 million over a period of two years. Of this amount, the City of Gainesville would allocate $1.5 million toward the senior center’s construction. The overall goal is to have a senior center in Alachua County by 2010

Those spearheading the senior-center project have also applied for a $2 million grant through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. If the grant is awarded, ElderCare of Alachua County will be the lead agency for the senior center, said Linda Gardner, chair of the Community Coalition for Older Adults

If Alachua County voters do not pass the Wild Spaces & Public Places tax, the CCOA has no plans to halt work on the center, Gardner said.

“We're always going to move forward, but if we don't get the grant application and the tax initiative fails, we're back to square one,” said Anthony Clarizio, executive director of ElderCare of Alachua County. “We're hoping that one of these things comes through for us so we can get moving on the senior center within the next year.”

Registry of Protected Public Places
This Alachua County referendum proposes an amendment to the Alachua County Charter to create a registry of protected public places. It would require that the sale or conversion of any county-owned lands used for conservation, recreation or cultural purposes would have to be approved by a majority of voters in a countywide referendum election.

Alachua County School Funding Initiative
The referendum will ask voters to consider a $1 million increase in property taxes beginning in July 2009 to fund programs in Alachua County schools. For the average Alachua County homeowner, a $1 million increase would cost a taxpayer about $120 a year. Any increase would last for four years, unless voters agreed to extend it.

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Six constitutional amendments also appear on this year's ballot. Here are the pros and cons of each, as provided by the nonpartisan League of Women Voters’ Web site, http://tallahassee.fl.lwvnet.org/StateBallots.html.

AMENDMENT #1: RELATING TO PROPERTY RIGHTS/ INELIGIBLE ALIENS
Summary: An amendment to our State Constitution to delete provisions authorizing the Legislature to regulate or prohibit the ownership, inheritance, disposition, and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship. Florida legislators never invoked the authority, and the ban was never put into effect.

Sponsor: The Florida Legislature

Background: The Florida Constitution provides that equal rights are for all in Florida, but creates a glaring exception for “aliens ineligible for citizenship,” who can be stripped of the right to own property by the Legislature. The exception dates to the early 1900s and is common to many states’ law, and was directed at Asian-American immigrants (the “Yellow Peril”). Only New Mexico and Florida still have these provisions in their constitutions, and both states’ leaders are asking voters to remove the language this year.

PRO: The amendment would remove an outdated and discriminatory passage from our Declaration of Rights.

CON: Constitutional action is not necessary at this time because there is no present Florida statute prohibiting ownership of property by aliens ineligible for citizenship.

AMENDMENT #2: FLORIDA MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT
Summary: This amendment protects marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and bans same-sex marriages in the state of Florida. In order to pass, the amendment will require a 60 percent majority of those voting in the election.

Sponsor:  Florida4Marriage.org

Background: A Florida statute already provides that marriage is only recognized between a man and a woman. An Orlando activist, John Stemberger, organized this ballot initiative, which is the only citizens’ initiative on the ballot.

PROS:

• Supporters say the amendment would protect children by ensuring that only one form of marriage, between a man and a woman, would ever be celebrated in Florida.
• The Florida statute that already provides for a single form of marriage could be overturned by a court on constitutional grounds.

 CONS:

• A statute already provides for a single form of marriage in Florida.
• Health care and pension benefit plans that cover unmarried couples living together and that are now legally valid may be adversely affected.
• Article I of the Florida Constitution, known as the Declaration of Rights, establishes rights, but this amendment would instead limit the right to marry.

AMENDMENT #3: CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS NOT AFFECTING THE ASSESSED VALUE OF RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY
Summary: This amendment would authorize the Florida Legislature to prohibit the consideration of certain improvements and changes to property when assessing the property’s value to ad valorem taxation. These changes and improvements include those that increase resistance to wind damage, as well as the installation of renewable energy source devices.

Sponsor: Florida Budget and Taxation Reform Commission

Background: Increased value of residential property based on improvements designed to improve hurricane safety previously could not be considered taxable increased value.

PROS:

• Hurricane safety may be improved in residential property.
• Residential property values may be increased.
• The amendment may relieve the burden on non-renewable energy sources.

CONS:

• Local revenues could suffer.
• Individuals’ savings may be minimal.
• The amendment does not apply to new construction.

AMENDMENT #4: PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION OF PERPETUALLY PRESERVED LAND; CLASSIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF LAND USED FOR CONSERVATION
Summary: This would amend the Florida Constitution to require the state Legislature to make a property tax exemption for property that is under perpetual conservation protection (as defined by general law). It also requires the Legislature to provide classification and assessment of land use for conservation. This would apply to property taxes beginning in 2010.

Sponsor: Florida Budget and Taxation Reform Commission

Background: Numerous provisions of federal estate and tax law favor landowners who preserve their property in its natural state. This provision would provide further tax benefits to those landowners.

PRO: The amendment may encourage further conservation of land in its natural state.

CONS:

• Local revenue will be decreased.
• Existing policies already favor those who preserve their land.
• The amendment would not require public access to the lands to which it applies.

AMENDMENT #6 : ASSESSMENT OF WORKING WATERFRONT PROPERTY BASED UPON CURRENT USE
Summary: This measure provides for the ad valorem tax assessment of waterfront property to be based on its current use. This includes land used primarily for commercial fishing purposes, land used for vessel launches to which the public has access, marinas and drystacks that are open to the public, water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities, and marine vessel construction and repair facilities.

Sponsor: Florida Budget and Taxation Reform Commission

Background: Access to public waterfront has been reduced, as marinas and the like cannot afford to resist developers' offers to convert the land into condominium towers or other private buildings. The amendment would require those properties to be taxed based on their current use rather than on their “highest and best” use.

PROS:

• Access to public waterfront areas would more likely remain at current levels rather than continuing to diminish.
• This measure may reduce property taxes on working waterfront properties and thereby reduce pressure to sell those properties to developers.

CONS:

• Local revenues would suffer.
• The measure allows the Legislature to define terms and impose conditions and limitations on any tax break working waterfront owners receive.

AMENDMENT #8: LOCAL OPTION COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING
Summary:  Proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to require that the Legislature authorize counties to levy a local option sales tax to supplement community college funding, requiring voter approval to levy the tax. Also provides that the approved taxes will sunset after five years and may be reauthorized by the voters.

Sponsor:  Florida Budget and Taxation Reform Commission

Background: The Legislature has allowed Miami-Dade County to levy a local-option sales tax to assist that area’s community college.

PROS:

• Community colleges serve as a gateway to the university system and to greater employment opportunities; this amendment could increase their funding.
• Voters would have the option of denying any proposed local-option sales tax increase under the proposal.

CONS:

• Sales taxes impose a greater burden on lower-income families.
• The measure shifts the burden of funding community colleges from state to local authorities.
• The amendment could create unequal opportunities for Florida residents based on the economy in their county of residence.

When Should I Vote?
One simple mantra rings true this year: vote early.

“We are encouraging our Seniors to vote early or vote absentee because the ballot is so long and it’s going to take them a while to read everything,” said Marion County Supervisor of Elections Dee Brown. “We are expecting long lines on Election Day.”

Voting early can also help you save time and avoid the headache of waiting in these lines. Early voting in both Alachua and Marion counties begins on Monday, October 20 and ends on Saturday, November 1.

Alachua County voters can vote early at any of the following three locations: the Supervisor of Elections Office at 12 SE 1st St., the Millhopper Branch Library at 3145 NW 43rd St., or the Tower Road Branch Library at 3020 SW 75th St. Polling places are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the second Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Marion County voters have the following six polling places to choose from:  Belleview City Hall at 5343 SE Abshier Blvd. (open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Dunnellon City Hall at 20750 River Drive (open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Freedom Public Library at 5870 SW 95th St. in Ocala (open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Forest Public Library at 777 S CR 314A in Ocklawaha (open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Reddick Public Library  at 15150 NW Gainesville Road (open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or the Supervisor of Elections Office at 981 NE 16th St. in Ocala (open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Absentee voting gives voters a chance to cast their ballots at home, saving gas in the process. Simply request an absentee ballot by visiting, calling in, mailing or faxing a written request to the Alachua or Marion County Supervisor of Elections office by October 29. Written requests must include the voter’s residential address (no post office boxes), date of birth, and signature.

Your absentee ballot will be mailed to you within two days of your request, and you must return it in person or via mail by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

One tip —avoid the first day of early voting or the weekend voting days, as they are usually the busiest.

“Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the first week of early voting are usually the quieter days,” said Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Pam Carpenter. “It just begins to really build that second week.”

Whether you decide to vote early or vote the traditional way on November 4, it is best to vote during “in-between times” — mid-morning between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. or mid-afternoon between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to avoid the before-work, lunchtime and after-work crowds.

Do I Need to Do Anything Before I Vote?
Have a picture and signature ID ready when you arrive at your polling place. You may use two forms of identification to meet this requirement. If you do not present proper identification, you must vote a provisional ballot. Your signature must also match the signature that is on file with your local Supervisor of Elections office. If it has in any way changed, you can update it by signing the top portion of a new voter registration form by October 6.

Where Do I Vote?
Not sure where to cast your ballot? Where you vote depends on where you live. Your voter registration card should have your precinct number on it, as well as the name and location of your polling place. You may also find this by using the Online Precinct Finder at either http://votemarion.com/PrecinctFinder.aspx or http://elections.alachua.fl.us/voter-registration/Precincts/precinct_finder.htmlprecinct_finder.html.

I Have No Transportation. How Can I Vote?
As of press time, a few groups were planning to provide voters with rides to and from their polling places.

Alachua County
The Alachua County Republican Party can arrange transportation for those who need a ride to the polls during early voting and on Election Day. Voters are asked to call 352-373-8500 as soon as possible to make arrangements.

The Alachua County Democratic Party will be providing rides during the Early Voting period and on Election Day. Call 352-373-1730 to make arrangements.

Marion County
The Marion County Democratic Party may be offering transportation, depending on the availability of volunteers. Voters may reach the office by calling 352-402-9494.
As of press time, calls to the Marion County Republican Party had not been returned.