The petition drive for the Voter Control of Gambling Act in Florida recently reached 301,370 valid signatures, according to the Florida Division of Elections. A total of 766,200 signatures are required for the proposed constitutional amendment to be placed on the November 2018 ballot, representing 8 percent of the turnout in the most recent presidential election. The amendment would change the Florida constitution to give voters—not legislators–the “exclusive right” to authorize any casino gambling expansion. The measure would not affect games offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida or other American Indian tribes.
Voters In Charge, the political committee behind the initiative, estimated it will need to collect a total of approximately 1.1 million signatures in order to meet the requirement. The amendment, if it makes it onto the ballot, would need a minimum of 60 percent of the vote to pass.
Disney Worldwide, the major financial backer of the amendment, has contributed $2.33 million to the petition drive since March—including $575,000 in September. Most of the funds have gone toward signature gathering and verification. The anti-gambling group No Casinos, the only other financial backer, has contributed $195,000. No Casinos is chaired by John Sowinski, who also serves as chair for Voters in Charge.
