2020 Florida elections
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| Elections in Florida |
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Florida state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Aside from its presidential primaries held on March 17, its primary elections were held on August 18, 2020.[1]
In addition to the U.S. presidential race, Florida voters elected all of its seats to the U.S. House of Representatives, one seat on the Florida Supreme Court, 25 of 65 seats on the Florida District Courts of Appeal, all of the seats of the Florida House of Representatives, and 21 of 40 seats in the Florida Senate. Six ballot measures were also voted on. Neither of the state's two U.S. Senate seats were up for election in 2020.[1]
To vote by mail, registered Florida voters had to request a ballot by October 24, 2020.[2] As of early October some 5,547,170 voters had requested mail ballots.[3]
Federal offices
[edit]President of the United States
[edit]Florida has 29 electoral votes in the Electoral College. Donald Trump won all of them with 51% of the popular vote. The following people filed for presidency candidacy:
| Candidate | Party | Incumbent |
|---|---|---|
| Donald J. Trump | Republican Party | √ |
| Joe R. Biden Jr. | Democratic Party | |
| Joanne "Jo" M. Jorgensen | Libertarian Party | |
| Gloria E. La Riva | Party for Socialism and Liberation | |
| Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente | Reform Party | |
| Brian T. Carroll | (unaffiliated / independent) | |
| Shawn W. Howard | (unaffiliated / independent) | |
| Valeria L. McCray | (unaffiliated / independent) | |
| Jade Simmons | (unaffiliated / independent) | |
| Kasey Wells | (unaffiliated / independent) |
United States House of Representatives
[edit]There are 26 U.S. Representatives in Florida that were up for election in addition to two seats opened by retirements and one opened after the incumbent, Ross Spano, lost renomination in its Republican primary.[4] 16 Republicans and 11 Democrats were returned. The Republican Party gained two districts, the 26th and the 27th.
| Candidate | Party | District | Incumbent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gus M. Bilirakis | Republican Party | 12 | √ |
| Kimberly Walker | Democratic Party | 12 | |
| Ardian Zika | Republican Party | 37 | √ |
| Tammy Garcia | Democratic Party | 37 |
State offices
[edit]State Judiciary
[edit]A retention election occurred for one of seven seats on the Supreme Court of Florida. The incumbent, Carlos G. Muñiz, filed for re-election. He won another 6-year term with 66% of the votes.[5]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 Yes
|
6,297,753 | 65.74 |
| No | 3,281,468 | 34.26 |
| Total votes | 9,579,221 | 100.00 |
State legislature
[edit]All 120 seats of the Florida House of Representatives and 21 of 40 seats of the Florida Senate are up for election. The outcome of this election could affect partisan balance during post-census redistricting.[7]
State senate
[edit]20 out of 40 seats were up for election in the state Senate with one special election. Before the election the composition of the state Senate was:
| Party | # of seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | 23 | |
| Democratic | 17 | |
| Total | 40 | |
After the election, the composition was:
| Party | # of seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | 24 | |
| Democratic | 16 | |
| Total | 40 | |
House of Representatives
[edit]All 120 seats in the state House were up for election. Before the election the composition of the state House was:
| Party | # of seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | 71 | |
| Democratic | 46 | |
| Total | 120[a] | |
After the election, the composition was:
| Party | # of seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | 78 | |
| Democratic | 42 | |
| Total | 120 | |
Ballot measures
[edit]To pass, any state constitutional amendment requires 60% of the vote.[8]
Amendment 1
[edit]Citizen Requirement for Voting Initiative would enshrine in the state constitution the exclusivity of voting rights for U.S. Citizens.[9]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes
|
8,307,109 | 79.29 |
| No | 2,169,684 | 20.71 |
| Required majority | 60.00 | |
| Total votes | 10,476,793 | 100.00 |
Amendment 2
[edit]$15 Minimum Wage Initiative would alter the state's constitution to guarantee a gradual raise of the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026.[10]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes
|
6,391,753 | 60.82 |
| No | 4,117,815 | 39.18 |
| Required majority | 60.00 | |
| Total votes | 10,509,568 | 100.00 |
Amendment 3
[edit]Top-Two Open Primaries Initiative would implement the contemporary Californian primary system, opening primaries to all votes regardless of party registration, placing candidates of all parties on the same ballot and advancing the first-place and second-place finishers to the general election regardless of party affiliation. In addition, if only two candidates filed for the primary, this system would cancel the primary and automatically send them to the general election.[11]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 No
|
4,410,768 | 42.97 |
| Yes | 5,854,468 | 57.03 |
| Required majority | 60.00 | |
| Total votes | 10,265,236 | 100.00 |
Amendment 4
[edit]Require Constitutional Amendments to be Passed Twice would require that any further amendments would need to succeed in two different elections to be ratified.[12]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| No
|
5,356,792 | 52.47 |
| Yes | 4,853,402 | 47.53 |
| Required majority | 60.00 | |
| Total votes | 10,210,194 | 100.00 |
Amendment 5
[edit]Extend "Save Our Homes" Portability Period Amendment would increase the period during which a person may transfer "Save Our Homes" benefits to a new homestead property from two years to three years.
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes
|
7,484,104 | 74.49 |
| No | 2,562,387 | 25.51 |
| Required majority | 60.00 | |
| Total votes | 10,046,491 | 100.00 |
Amendment 6
[edit]Homestead Property Tax Discount for Spouses of Deceased Veterans Amendment would allow a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran.
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes
|
9,305,503 | 89.73 |
| No | 1,065,308 | 10.27 |
| Required majority | 60.00 | |
| Total votes | 10,370,811 | 100.00 |
Polling
[edit]The highlighted result in any poll is whichever is closer to its threshold (40% for 'against' and 60% for 'for' with respect to a given amendment).
- Amendment 1
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 1 | Against Florida Amendment 1 | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civiqs/Daily Kos | October 17–20, 2020 | 863 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 53% | 39% | 9% |
| University of North Florida | October 1–4, 2020 | 3,091 (LV) | – | 78%[c] | 18% | 2%[d] |
| St. Leo University Polling Institute | November 13–18, 2019 | 500 (A) | ± 4.5% | 80% | 10% | 9% |
- Amendment 2
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 2 | Against Florida Amendment 2 | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Pete Polls | October 29–30, 2020 | 2,758 (LV) | ± 1.9% | 58% | 35% | – | 8% |
| Monmouth University | October 24–28, 2020 | 509 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 63% | 32% | 2%[e] | 4% |
| Florida Atlantic University | October 24–25, 2020 | 937 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 62% | 38% | – | 8% |
| Civiqs/Daily Kos | October 17–20, 2020 | 863 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 57% | 38% | – | 4% |
| Ipsos/Pure Spectrum | October 7–15, 2020 | 1,001 (A) | ± 3.5% | 70% | 21% | – | 9% |
| Emerson College | October 10–12, 2020 | 690 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 52% | 31% | – | 11% |
| University of North Florida | October 1–4, 2020 | 3,055 (LV) | – | 60%[c] | 37% | – | 3%[f] |
| Cherry Communications/Florida Chamber of Commerce[1][A] | September 23–29, 2020 | 604 (LV) | ± 4% | 66% | – | – | – |
| St. Pete Polls | September 21–22, 2020 | 2,906 (LV) | ± 1.8% | 65% | 23% | – | 13% |
| Monmouth University | September 10–13, 2020 | 428 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 67% | 26% | 1%[g] | 6% |
| St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | May 26–27, 2020 | 4,763 (RV) | ± 1.4% | 64% | 24% | – | 12% |
| St. Leo University Polling Institute | November 13–18, 2019 | 500 (A) | ± 4.5% | 63% | 26% | – | 11% |
| St. Pete Polls | May 6 – June 1, 2019 | 3,790 (RV) | ± 1.6% | 58% | 35% | – | 7% |
- Amendment 3
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 3 | Against Florida Amendment 3 | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Pete Polls | October 29–30, 2020 | 2,758 (LV) | ± 1.9% | 48% | 40% | – | 12% |
| Monmouth University | October 24–28, 2020 | 509 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 53% | 30% | 2%[h] | 15% |
| Florida Atlantic University | October 24–25, 2020 | 937 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 58% | 29% | – | 13% |
| St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | October 21–22, 2020 | 2,527 (LV) | ± 2% | 37% | 44% | – | 19% |
| Civiqs/Daily Kos | October 17–20, 2020 | 863 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 51% | 36% | – | 13% |
| University of North Florida | October 1–4, 2020 | 2,994 (LV) | – | 58%[c] | 36% | – | 6%[i] |
| Cherry Communications/Florida Chamber of Commerce[2][B] | September 23–29, 2020 | 604 (LV) | ± 4% | 61% | – | – | – |
| St. Pete Polls | September 21–22, 2020 | 2,906 (LV) | ± 1.8% | 46% | 35% | – | 19% |
| Monmouth University | September 10–13, 2020 | 428 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 63% | 21% | 1%[j] | 15% |
| St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | May 26–27, 2020 | 4,763 (RV) | ± 1.4% | 35% | 44% | – | 20% |
| St. Pete Polls | October 7–10, 2019 | 3,283 (RV) | ± 1.7% | 38% | 48% | – | 14% |
| St. Pete Polls | May 6 – June 1, 2019 | 3,790 (RV) | ± 1.6% | 59% | 26% | – | 14% |
- Amendment 4
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 4 | Against Florida Amendment 4 | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Florida | October 1–4, 2020 | 2,943 (LV) | – | 52%[c] | 41% | 7%[k] |
| Cherry Communications/Florida Chamber of Commerce[3][C] | September 23–29, 2020 | 604 (LV) | ± 4% | 61% | – | – |
| St. Pete Polls | September 21–22, 2020 | 2,906 (LV) | ± 1.8% | 44% | 31% | 25% |
| St. Pete Polls | October 7–10, 2019 | 3,283 (RV) | ± 1.7% | 49% | 30% | 21% |
- Amendment 5
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 5 | Against Florida Amendment 5 | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Florida | October 1–4, 2020 | 2,928 (LV) | – | 67%[c] | 26% | 7%[l] |
- Amendment 6
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
For Florida Amendment 6 | Against Florida Amendment 6 | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Florida | October 1–4, 2020 | 2,913 (LV) | – | 88%[c] | 8% | 4%[m] |
See also
[edit]- Elections in Florida
- Bilingual elections requirement for Florida (per Voting Rights Act Amendments of 2006)[13]
- Politics of Florida
- Government of Florida
Notes
[edit]- ^ Including 3 vacancies
- ^ a b c d e f Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - ^ a b c d e f Questions in this poll were preceded by the pollster's assessment of each measure's potential effects beforehand
- ^ Includes "Refused"
- ^ Would not vote with 2%
- ^ Includes "Refused"
- ^ Would not vote with 1%
- ^ Would not vote with 2%
- ^ Includes "Refused"
- ^ Would not vote with 1%
- ^ Includes "Refused"
- ^ Includes "Refused"
- ^ Includes "Refused"
- Partisan clients
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Florida elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ Lily Hay Newman (August 27, 2020), "How to Vote by Mail and Make Sure It Counts", Wired.com, archived from the original on October 6, 2020
- ^ Michael P. McDonald, "2020 General Election Early Vote Statistics", U.S. Elections Project, retrieved October 10, 2020,
Detailed state statistics
- ^ Foran, Clare (August 18, 2020). "Embattled Florida Republican congressman loses primary challenge, CNN projects". CNN. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ "Merit Retention Biographies". The Florida Bar. May 26, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Florida Department of State - Election Results 2020 General". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Florida Department of State. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ Wendy Underhill; Ben Williams (December 4, 2019), "Election Dates for Legislators and Governors Who Will Do Redistricting", Ncsl.org, Washington, D.C.: National Conference of State Legislatures
- ^ "Supermajority Vote Requirements". NCSL. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ Landers, Rob (September 14, 2020). "Florida Amendments 2020: Amendment 1 requires 'only a' citizen can vote. What it means". Florida Today. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ Landers, Rob (August 19, 2020). "Florida Amendments 2020: Amendment 2 raises minimum wage to $15 from $8.56 by 2026". Florida Today. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ Aboraya, Abe (September 15, 2020). "What Is Florida's Amendment 3, The All Voters Vote In Primary Elections?". WUSF Public Media. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ Aboraya, Abe (September 16, 2020). "What Is Florida's Amendment 4, The Voter Approval Of Constitutional Amendments?". WUSF. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
- ^ "Covered Areas for Voting Rights Bilingual Election Materials—2015", Voting Rights Act Amendments of 2006, Determinations Under Section 203, Federal Register, retrieved October 13, 2020,
A Notice by the Census Bureau on 12/05/2016
Further reading
[edit]- Lori Rozsa (October 5, 2020), "Most Florida felons kept from registering to vote by fines, fees or fears, activists say", Washingtonpost.com
- "Florida extends voter registration deadline after website crash", Orlandosentinel.com, October 6, 2020
External links
[edit]- Division of Elections - Florida Department of State
- Florida Elections Commission government website
- "League of Women Voters of Florida". (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
- Florida at Ballotpedia
- Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, "Florida", Voting & Elections Toolkits
- "Florida: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links", Vote.org, Oakland, CA
- Florida 2019 & 2020 Elections, OpenSecrets
- "Election Guides: Florida", Spreadthevote.org (in English and Spanish), archived from the original on October 4, 2020, retrieved October 7, 2020. (Guidance to help voters get to the polls; addresses transport, childcare, work, information challenges)
- "Voting in Florida", Voting Information by State, Rock the Vote. ("Deadlines, dates, requirements, registration options and information on how to vote in your state")
