Confused by Your 2026 Florida & Miami-Dade Ballot? Here’s What Every YES and NO Really Means

Voting should not feel like taking a law school exam.

But some ballot questions use a lot of big words.

That can make a simple question feel very hard.

So we made this guide.

Vida Luxury Group is not telling you how to vote.

We are explaining what the questions mean so you can make your own decision.

Florida Amendment 1: Florida’s Emergency Savings Account

What Happens Today?

Florida has an emergency savings account.

It is called the Budget Stabilization Fund.

Today, the maximum amount that can be kept in this fund is based on 10% of Florida’s general revenue collections.

Think of it like Florida’s rainy-day savings account.If YES Wins

The maximum would increase from 10% to 25%.

Florida would generally have to move the smaller of:
$750 million each year
or
the amount needed to reach the 25% goal
into the fund, unless certain conditions apply.

The Legislature could still withdraw money for critical state needs.If NO Wins

The maximum stays at 10%.

The new 25% limit and yearly transfer rule would not begin.Why Might This Matter?

More savings can give Florida more money when something bad happens.

That could be a hurricane.

It could be a recession.

It could be another major emergency.

But money placed in savings also cannot be used for something else at that time.

Official Source:
https://constitutionalinitiatives.dos.fl.gov/Home/InitDetail?account=10&seqnum=108

Florida Amendment 2: Tax Exemption for Certain Farm Property What Happens Today?

Certain equipment and other property used on agricultural land can be subject to property tax.If YES Wins

Qualifying tangible property used on agricultural land for farming or agritourism would become exempt from this property tax.

The change would first apply to tax years beginning January 1, 2027.If NO Wins

The new exemption would not happen.

That property would continue under today’s tax rules.Why Might This Matter?

Some farm owners could pay less property tax.

Local governments could collect less tax from this type of property.

Official Source:
https://constitutionalinitiatives.dos.fl.gov/Home/InitDetail?account=10&seqnum=109

Florida Amendment 3: Homestead and Property Taxes

This is the ballot question with the biggest direct connection to real estate.

It also does more than one thing.What Happens Today?

Florida already gives qualifying homeowners homestead property-tax benefits.

For many non-homestead properties, the annual increase in assessed value is capped at 10%.

That can include many vacation homes, rentals, investment properties, second homes, and commercial properties.If YES Wins

For non-school property taxes, the homestead exemption would increase to:
$150,000 in 2027
and
$250,000 in 2028.

It would adjust for inflation after that.

The amendment would create a process for counties and cities to increase their own homestead exemptions further.

The annual assessment-growth cap for non-homestead property would fall from 10% to 5%.

It would also change rules governing how counties and municipalities use property-tax revenue.If NO Wins

The new exemption amounts would not take effect.

The new process for larger local exemptions would not begin.

The annual non-homestead assessment cap would stay at 10% instead of dropping to 5%.

The proposed new local property-tax spending rules would not take effect.Why Might This Matter?

It could affect:
• Homeowners
• Future Florida residents
• Vacation-home owners
• Landlords
• Investors
• Businesses
• Local governments

It does not make investment properties tax-free.

For the complete explanation, link here:

READ OUR FULL AMENDMENT 3 GUIDE

Planned link:
https://vidalux.net/florida-amendment-3-explained-homestead-property-taxes/

Official Source:
https://constitutionalinitiatives.dos.fl.gov/Home/InitDetail?account=10&seqnum=110

Miami-Dade Referendum 1: Who Should Set County Commissioner Salaries? What Happens Today?

The Miami-Dade County Charter says each County Commissioner receives a base salary of $6,000 per year, plus approved reasonable and necessary expenses.If YES Wins

The fixed Charter salary system would be replaced with an independent five-person Salary Commission.

Its members would be appointed by the Chief Judge, State Attorney, Public Defender, Executive Director of the Commission on Ethics, and Inspector General.

The commission would review commissioner salaries each year.

Commissioners could not change the commission’s final salary decision.If NO Wins

The independent Salary Commission would not be created.

The current Charter salary system would remain.Why Might This Matter?

The basic question is:

Should commissioner salaries stay under today’s Charter system?

Or should an independent group review and set them?

Official Miami-Dade source:
https://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/

Miami-Dade Referendum 2: How Long Must Someone Live in a District Before Running? What Happens Today?

A person running for County Commissioner must live in the district for at least six months before the qualifying period.If YES Wins

That becomes one year.If NO Wins

It stays at six months.Why Might This Matter?

A longer rule can make it harder for someone to move into a district shortly before running for office.

A shorter rule gives voters a larger possible group of candidates.

Official Miami-Dade source:
https://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/

Miami-Dade Referendum 3: Special Elections What Happens Today?

When certain County offices become vacant, today’s Charter rules control when the vacancy is filled and when a special election can happen.If YES Wins

When an official has submitted an irrevocable resignation to run for another office, the County would have more ability to coordinate the replacement election with another election that is already scheduled.

The proposal also creates minimum timing rules for municipal candidate qualifying periods.If NO Wins

The County would continue using today’s process without these new changes.Why Might This Matter?

Putting elections together may mean fewer separate elections.

A separate election can also give one race more attention.

Official Miami-Dade source:
https://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/

Miami-Dade Referendum 4: Elected County Offices What Happens Today?

Miami-Dade already has separately elected constitutional offices including:
• Sheriff
• Tax Collector
• Property Appraiser
• Supervisor of Elections

These offices already exist.If YES Wins

The County Charter would be updated to address those elected offices.

It would clarify some financial and budget duties.

County employees who run for one of these constitutional offices would have to take a leave of absence while running.If NO Wins

The Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, and Supervisor of Elections would still exist.

The proposed Charter changes simply would not take effect.Why Might This Matter?

This question is mainly about updating County rules to fit the government structure that now exists.

Official Miami-Dade source:
https://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/

Miami-Dade Referendum 5: Updating Old Charter Language What Happens Today?

Parts of the County Charter use older names, wording, and procedures.If YES Wins

The County Charter would be updated in several technical ways.

That includes updating certain location names, allowing additional methods of public notice and participation when Florida law permits them, and cleaning up numbering, gender wording, capitalization, and grammar.If NO Wins

Those changes would not happen.

The existing Charter language would stay.Why Might This Matter?

Think of it like updating an old instruction book.

Official Miami-Dade source:
https://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/

Miami-Dade Referendum 6: More Advertising in Parks What Happens Today?

Advertising in the covered parks is more limited and generally tied to sponsorship of an event or park facility.If YES Wins

The County could allow additional advertising that does not have to be tied to sponsorship, subject to the rules in the amendment.If NO Wins

Advertising would stay under today’s more limited system.Why Might This Matter?

More advertising could bring in additional money.

It could also mean more commercial advertising inside public parks.

Official Miami-Dade source:
https://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/

Miami-Dade School Referendum: Renewing an Existing Property Tax What Happens Today?

Miami-Dade already has an existing one-mill property-tax levy used for school operating expenses.

The ballot language says the money includes funding for teacher and instructional-personnel compensation and student safety and school security, including public charter schools, with citizen oversight.If YES Wins

The existing tax would continue from July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2031.If NO Wins

The tax would not be renewed for that new four-year period.

This is important:

The ballot is asking whether to continue an existing levy.

It is not asking whether to create this particular levy for the first time.Why Might This Matter?

YES continues the levy and the funding tied to it.

NO means the four-year renewal does not happen.

Official Miami-Dade source:
https://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/

Miami Beach: 1691 Michigan Avenue Lease

This question applies to City of Miami Beach voters.What Happens Today?

The City of Miami Beach owns the property at 1691 Michigan Avenue.

It is already leased to RK Rivani LLC.If YES Wins

The proposed lease amendment could move forward.

Among other things, it would:
• Give the tenant two additional 20-year extension options
• Allow about 47,000 square feet of new development above the existing garage
• Guarantee approximately $247.7 million in base rent during the two additional option periods
• Increase percentage rent from 2.5% to 3%

The broader lease amendment describes a possible remaining lease term of 106 years and states that the City Commission waived formal competitive bidding by the required 5/7 vote.If NO Wins

The proposed amendment would not receive voter approval.

The two additional 20-year options and other new terms in this proposal would not take effect.

The existing lease would remain instead.Why Might This Matter?

This is City-owned property.

Voters are deciding whether to approve these new long-term terms with the existing private tenant.

Official Source:
https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/election-information/related-resolutions-november-3-2026/

What About Candidates and Judges?

This guide focuses on the amendments and referendums because these questions can be especially hard to understand.

Candidate races are different.

Those ask voters to choose between people.

Judicial retention questions ask voters whether an existing appellate judge should remain in office.

Candidate and judicial races can also vary depending on where someone lives.

Vida Luxury Group does not endorse candidates in this guide.

Readers should review reliable information about the people appearing on their own ballot before deciding.Understanding Important Decisions Should Be Simple

You should not need to be a lawyer to understand your ballot.

We hope this guide made the questions easier to understand.

Vida Luxury Group is not telling you how to vote.

We believe people should understand important information before making important decisions.

We believe the same thing about real estate.About Vida Luxury Group

At Vida Luxury Group, our job is not simply to show you properties.

We help you understand the bigger picture.

If you are buying, selling, or investing in South Florida, we can help you look at the property, the numbers, the costs, the association rules, the rental restrictions, and the other details that can affect your decision.

Our goal is simple:

Make complicated real estate easier to understand.

Whether you are looking for your first home, your next home, a vacation property, or an investment property, we are here to help you make an informed decision.Thinking About Buying?

Button text:
SEARCH SOUTH FLORIDA HOMES

Link:
https://vidalux.net/search/?mode=saleWant Us to Help You Find the Right Property?

Button text:
GET A PERSONALIZED PROPERTY SEARCH

Link:
https://vidalux.net/contact/Want to Understand Amendment 3 Better?

Button text:
READ THE COMPLETE AMENDMENT 3 GUIDE

Link:
https://vidalux.net/florida-amendment-3-explained-homestead-property-taxes/Official Sources

Florida Department of State Constitutional Amendments Database:
https://constitutionalinitiatives.dos.fl.gov/

Miami-Dade County Government Legislative Records:
https://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/

City of Miami Beach November 3, 2026 Election Information:
https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/election-information/related-resolutions-november-3-2026/

Educational information only. Vida Luxury Group does not endorse or oppose any amendment, referendum, candidate, judge, or political party in this guide.