Author: Sarah Hoffman

Thanks to citizen-led ballot initiatives to amend the state Constitution, Florida voters have raised the minimum wage, enacted term limits for politicians, protected our beaches from oil drilling, legalized medical marijuana, established a taxpayer bill of rights, created universal voluntary pre-kindergarten for children, and passed many other reforms when politicians in Tallahassee have refused to act.

With a regressive administration at the helm of our nation’s government, the 2025 Florida legislative session soon to be underway, and numerous special elections this year, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of current political and policy news.

Were you among the more than three million Floridians who voted by mail in the November election? If so, we have some important info to share.

Last year, most students in Florida received no reproductive health education. 

How is that possible? In 2023, the state legislature passed House Bill 1069 (the same bill that led to book bans and censorship of LGBTQ+ content in schools), which required the Florida Department of Education (DOE) to approve any materials used for sexual and health education.

This issue has reached a critical juncture: the judicial challenge to the DEP’s permit will be heard this coming Monday, making it the perfect time for concerned citizens to make their voices heard.

Thanks to a heroic state employee whistleblower, this summer Floridians learned about Gov. DeSantis’ secretive scheme to develop hotels, pickleball courts, and even golf courses in our pristine state parks. Grassroots protests erupted across the state, political leaders from both sides of the aisle condemned the plan, and the idea was quickly scrapped – or was it?

Early voting begins TODAY in most Florida counties, and we’ve got the tools you need to cast your ballot in this critical election. 

As Floridians prepare to cast their votes in the historic 2024 General Election, Progress Florida and Florida Watch have launched the Informed Voters’ Guide to the Amendments for the six proposed constitutional amendments.

Children across Florida are suffering from hunger after Gov. Ron DeSantis declined to participate in a new federal program that helps families in need buy groceries so low-income kids won’t face food insecurity over the summer.

Our early voting interactive map provides details, including days and hours of operation (which can vary), for all early voting sites in each county across Florida.