Florida Judge Orders Property-Tax Ballot Rewrite Over ‘Political Slogan’

August 4, 2026 - 19:58

A Florida circuit judge has ordered state officials to rewrite the ballot language for a proposed property-tax amendment, ruling that the current title reads more like a campaign pitch than a neutral legal summary. The decision, handed down this week, targets Amendment 3, which would expand property-tax exemptions for certain homeowners.

Judge John C. Cooper found that the phrase used in the ballot title was "akin to political slogan," and therefore violated state requirements that ballot summaries be clear and unbiased. The exact wording in question was not disclosed in the ruling, but the judge said it failed to accurately describe the amendment's legal effect without slanting voter perception.

The case was brought by a coalition of local governments and taxpayer groups who argued the language would mislead voters into supporting a measure with far broader fiscal consequences than the title suggests. The amendment, if passed, could reduce local revenue by hundreds of millions of dollars, forcing cuts to public services.

State officials now have a limited window to submit revised language before ballots are finalized for the upcoming election. The judge did not strike down the amendment itself, only the wording, meaning the measure can still appear on the ballot if a compliant summary is approved.

Supporters of the amendment called the ruling an overreach, insisting the original title was straightforward and voter-friendly. Opponents praised the decision as a necessary check on misleading political tactics. The state is expected to appeal, but time is tight, and election officials say they need a final version within days to meet printing deadlines.