I’ve been listening to and reading about reflections on the primary election. It's never been more apparent that the League of Women Voters' work to help get voters registered is critical. And after they are registered, to get them to vote. In Florida, just a little more than a quarter of eligible voters voted in the Primary.  

September is Voter Registration Month. I challenge you to find three people and encourage them to register to vote. A small number of people are making decisions for all of us. We can expect a higher turnout for the General Election in November, as is tradition. But now is the time to register voters well before our 2028 presidential election.

Shout-out to Voter Services Chair Tina Palmese and her wonderful committee for doing such an incredible job this year. Collier County turnout was higher than the State’s.

Florida voters will decide Amendment 3 on November 3, 2026. The proposed constitutional amendment would significantly increase the homestead exemption while reducing property tax revenue available to local governments. It requires 60% voter approval to pass.

If approved, Amendment 3 would:

• Increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to as much as $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.
• Reduce the annual assessment increase cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%. The annual increase cap for homesteaded property would remain at 3% or CPI.
• Phase in the increased exemption for people establishing a Florida homestead beginning in 2027; they would become eligible for the larger exemption beginning in their fifth year.
• Limit the purposes for which counties and municipalities may use property tax revenue, introducing new controls for how local communities use tax revenue.
• Leave the existing $25,000 exemption for school district property taxes unchanged.

The proposal could substantially reduce local government revenue. State economists estimate statewide property tax revenue losses of approximately $5 billion in fiscal year 2027-28, increasing to nearly $12 billion annually by 2031-32.

In Collier County, property taxes help fund public safety, roads and infrastructure, parks and beaches, libraries, environmental programs, public facilities and constitutional offices. Local officials could respond to reduced revenue by cutting spending or services, increasing fees or other revenues, adjusting millage rates where permitted, or using a combination of approaches.

Supporters emphasize tax relief for homeowners and government spending restraint. Opponents emphasize potential reductions in local services or the shift to other taxes and fees. The LWV of Florida opposes this measure, along with 40 other organizations, departments, and non-profits.

The ballot language was rewritten following a court order and is undergoing further judicial review; final language will be confirmed by early September.

Read More about Amendment 3 

The results of the August 18th Primary Election have been certified, and the results were disappointing, with turnout at levels lower than hoped.  The detailed demographic and party statistics are not yet available. Here are some highlights and estimations based on the limited data available:            

• Voter turnout declined to 26.4%. The most recent mid-cycle year primary election turnout was 29.8% (2022). 
• The number of voters who participated in the Primary declined by 7% despite a 5% growth in the number of eligible voters vs 2022.
  
• Fewer voters used absentee ballots.  44% of ballots cast were by mail, lower than in 2022 (54.2%). Was this due to the effects of the new requirement to re-request a ballot, uncertainty about absentee voting, or a reflection of the races on this year's ballot? Maybe all of these?
• A higher level of Democrat use of mail ballots was again evident.  Using the Governor's race as an indicator, 54% of voters for the Democratic race for Governor voted by mail, vs 38% of Republicans. Both parties were less like to use vote-by-mail than in 2022.
• Turnout (at least measured by the gubernatorial race) was higher for Republicans than Democrats, echoing 2022. For this race, 28.6% of registered Democrats cast a vote for governor, while 32% of registered Republicans voted.

The full data about the 2026 Primary, including vote totals by party, race, and sex, will be available mid September and the October Voter will include a more detailed analysis.

On July 28, 2026, the Collier County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a “zoning in progress” measure addressing large-scale data centers. The action follows public concern about the potential development of these facilities and gives the county time to establish regulations before applications are submitted.

Rather than adopting a formal one-year moratorium, commissioners chose “zoning in progress,” which allows the county to pause acceptance and processing of new data center applications while regulations are developed. Although there are currently no active applications, commissioners said they want clear rules in place before developers propose projects.

County staff will first define what constitutes a data center, with particular attention to large “hyperscale” facilities. Regulations are expected to address important issues including land use, electricity consumption and water usage. Data centers may ultimately be classified as conditional uses, requiring public hearings and additional review.

Over the next 12 months, county staff will develop a proposed regulatory framework. It is expected to be reviewed by the Development Services Advisory Committee, Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners before final adoption.

There will be opportunities for public comment throughout the process. The LWV Environmental Affairs Committee will also provide educational opportunities to help League members better understand the potential environmental impacts of data centers and prepare to participate in the public discussion.

Documents presented to the Planning Commission provide additional information about the issues under consideration and the county’s approach to developing appropriate regulations.

Planning Commission Document 1

Planning Commission Document 2

Voter Services

There are several opportunities for members to volunteer to help encourage voter registration, update registrations, request mail ballots, and share information about candidates and amendments. Contact Voter Services Chair Tina Palmese at tpalmese@aol.com to learn more.

Education Ambassadors

Letter to the Editor submitted by Nancy Chism

Although many Florida voters breathed a sigh of relief when the proposed property tax rollback (now Amendment 3) was written to exempt school taxes from any decrease, it is important to note that schools will indeed be impacted, should the ballot issue pass.

Beyond the allocation that our district, Collier County Public Schools, receives annually from the state, the district partners with many other local organizations to provide education to its students and other benefits to the community. These partner organizations that are funded by property taxes will have to look for ways to cut their services when their budgets are reduced.

The services now provided to school districts across the state support student safety, mental health programs, arts enrichment, health and wellness programs, before- and after-school childcare, and recreational initiatives. County-supported organizations like the public libraries and nutritional services augment student needs out of school. Should these programs experience drastic budget cuts, their ability to partner with schools will be jeopardized. School districts may also have to pay higher fees for services or other purchases if organizations institute increases to balance their budgets.

The League of Women Voters of Florida opposes passage of Amendment 3. Voters contemplating supporting the Amendment because it exempts school taxes need to recognize that schools will be impacted as well as other essential services, should the ballot issue pass.