Civil rights organization declares this is a “disappointment for democracy”
TALLAHASSEE, FL (July 22, 2024) — Today, the First District Court of Appeal refused to rule on the question of whether courts can review inaccurate and misleading financial impact statements. This decision is a setback for the integrity of our democratic process and the right of Florida voters to receive clear, accurate, and lawful information ahead of the November election.
The circuit court had previously ruled that the initial financial impact statement produced by the Financial Impact Estimating Conference was legally defective. The State appealed, arguing that no court had the ability to review the ballot statements, no matter how inaccurate or misleading. As it argued it had free reign to put anything it likes on the ballot, the Conference also independently revised the statement, adding significant legal defects, leading to continued misinformation and ambiguity as explained in the brief of the Amendment 4 sponsor, Floridians Protecting Freedom.
Michelle Morton, staff attorney at the ACLU of Florida, stated:
“We are deeply disappointed by the court’s refusal to answer whether the State has the power to put any statement, no matter how deceptive, on the ballot, with no recourse in the courts. Allowing the State to continue to act as if it has this right undermines the democratic process and the right of voters to make informed decisions based on accurate information. By not resolving this issue, the court has failed to protect the integrity of our elections and has compromised the trust of Floridians in the voting process.
“Despite this setback, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fight for the rights of all voters. We will continue to challenge any attempts to mislead and confuse the public and will work tirelessly to ensure that the truth prevails. Our democracy depends on transparency and accuracy, and we will not rest until these principles are upheld. As part of this commitment, we are taking our case to the Florida Supreme Court to ensure that justice is served and the rights of all voters are protected.”
“The ACLU of Florida urges all Floridians to remain vigilant and informed as we approach the November election. The fight for fair and accurate information is far from over, and we will continue to advocate for the rights of voters and the integrity of our democratic process.”
The court’s order can be viewed below.
