By james art 
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024, with polling stations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Do you know about the 2024 Florida Amendments?
Florida voters will face six proposed constitutional amendments on the Nov. 5 ballot. Each needs at least 60% of the vote to be included in the Florida constitution.
Still not sure what each amendment means and whether you’ll be voting yes or no? In this story we emphasize Amendment 2 — amendment to the right to hunt and fish — to help you prepare for Election Day, which is from 7am to 7pm on Tuesday 5 November 2024.
In this story, we highlight Amendment 2 and offer the recommendations (when available) of the editorial boards of two Florida newspapers on the USA TODAY NETWORK and four other newspapers in the Sunshine State. Although Florida is home to nearly two dozen newspapers, with 16 sites that are part of the USA TODAY network, a minority of newspapers provide editorial board recommendations during the U.S. general election. However, every newspaper is covering the Florida amendment in the 2024 election with stories explaining what it means for their readers. Below is a list of the newspapers here with links to their sites if you want to do some further research on Amendment 2.
How many newspapers are there in Florida?
Below is a list of Florida newspapers:
- Daytona Beach News-Journal, news-journalonline.com
- Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, jacksonville.com
- FLORIDA TODAY, which covers the Space Coast, floridatoday.com
- Gainesville Sun, gainesville.com
- Lakeland Ledger, theledger.com
- (Fort Myers) News-Press, news-press.com
- Miami Herald, miamiherald.com
- Naples Daily News, naplesnews.com
- Northwest Florida Daily News, nwfdailynews.com
- Ocala Star-Banner, ocala.com
- Orlando Sentinel, orlandosentinel.com
- Palm Beach Daily News, palmbeachdailynews.com
- Palm Beach Post, palmbeachpost.com
- Panama City News-Herald, newsherald.com
- Pensacola News Journal, pnj.com
- Record of St. Augustine, staugustine.com
- South Florida Sun-Sentinel, sun-sentinel.com
- Tallahassee Democrat, tallahassee.com
- Tampa Bay Times/Tampa Tribune, tampabay.com
- TCPalm or Treasure Coast Newspapers, which covers Martin County, St. Lucie County and Indian River County, tcpalm.com
Which Florida newspapers offer editorial board recommendations or endorsements for corrections in Florida?
For the 2024 general election, in most cases, the editorial boards of six Florida newspapers offered recommendations or advice — endorsements of how to vote — on the six Florida amendments on the ballot.
Florida Amendments of 2024: Amendment 2, Fishing and Hunting Amendment
Sponsor: Florida Legislature
Summary: Proposing an amendment to the state constitution to preserve fishing and hunting in perpetuity, including through the use of traditional methods, as a public right and preferred means of responsible management and control of fish and wildlife. Clarifies that the amendment does not limit the powers granted to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Section IV of Article IV of the State Constitution.
Florida Amendment 2: Establishes a constitutional right to hunt and fish
FLORIDA TODAY’s John A. Torres discusses Amendment 2 on the November ballot with USA Today Florida Network reporters John Kennedy and James Kahl.
TCPalm, also known as Treasure Coast Newspapers, is part of the USA TODAY network covering Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie in Florida.
TCPalm: NO
The TCPalm Editorial Board recommends voting against Amendment 2.
Why: “It has been almost 190 years since Florida established its constitution. For the above reasons, we see no reason to amend the constitution for something that has never been a source of controversy.
The Palm Beach Post is part of the USA TODAY network.
The Palm Beach Post: NO
The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board recommends voting against Amendment 2.
Why: “If ever there was a right not enshrined in the Florida constitution, it is this. By law, Florida residents already enjoy hunting and fishing privileges. The constitutional promise of the amendment comes with big problems that should worry anyone who values the state’s wildlife and natural habitats. These three strikes alone deserve a rejection. … Amendment 2 would prohibit any bans on hunting and fishing, even when appropriate to preserve an endangered species. It establishes the ‘traditional’ methods of hunting and fishing … as a public right and the preferred means of responsible management and control of fish and wildlife.”Therein lies the problem. Hunting and fishing are not the only ways to manage and control fish and wildlife. Conservation and land conservation work too. But these efforts will take a backseat to ‘traditional means,’ whatever that means.”
Tampa Bay Times: NO
The Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board recommends voting against Amendment 2.
Why: “This is an absurd amendment that does not belong in the state constitution, whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or not. Let’s state the obvious first: Florida is a great place to fish and hunt. The lifestyle and recreation of enjoying Florida’s natural resources has thrived since the state’s existence. Hunting and fishing are multi-billion dollar industries that add to Florida’s character, support tens of thousands of jobs and support entire communities. Visitors come to Florida for the outdoors, and its wild lands and waterways are the main reasons people vacation here, move (here), open businesses here and stay here. Hunting and fishing are among Florida’s most thriving activities. They are not under threat. But they could be if Florida residents pass this amendment.
Miami Herald: NO
The Miami Herald Editorial Board recommends voting against Amendment 2.
Why: “The measure on the Nov. 5 general election ballot preserves the right in perpetuity to fish and hunt, including through the use of traditional methods, as a public right and preferred means of responsible management and control of fish and wildlife. Florida law already protects those rights, but supporters say a constitutional amendment is needed to prevent attempts to ban or limit them. However, there are no credible proposals to stop Floridians from hunting or fishing. Even if there were, it’s virtually impossible for a conservative legislature or state regulators to agree. This is part of the reason Amendment 2 is misleading. Another reason is that if approved by at least 60% of voters, the amendment could be used to challenge even the most common-sense hunting and fishing regulations, even though the ballot language says it does not limit the powers granted to fish and the Wildlife Conservation Commission, the primary regulatory agency for such activities.
Orlando Sentinel: NO
The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board recommends voting against Amendment 2.
Why: “Amendment 2 could wreak havoc on Florida’s habitats and wildlife: Sentinel supports no vote on Florida constitutional amendment on hunting and fishing, whose complicated wording gives the state too much power.”
South Florida Sun Guard: NO
The South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Board recommends voting against Amendment 2.
Why: “Keep hunting and fishing out of the constitution: Amendment 2 does much more than simply preserve the right to fish and hunt that is already in state law. The amendment’s overwhelmingly negative implications for wildlife management and ethical hunting practices should cause even ardent sportsmen to vote resoundingly no.