New Florida Ballot Measure Requirements Blocked by Judge (1)

A federal judge in Florida preliminarily blocked state officials from enforcing multiple new requirements imposed on groups that want to change the state constitution in the 2026 elections.

Requirements that all signature gatherers be residents of Florida have First Amendment problems, Judge Mark E. Walker of the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida wrote in an order Tuesday. The same goes for a prohibition on non-citizen petition circulators, Walker said as he addressed multiple preliminary injunction requests.

“This Court recognizes that the State has great leeway in regulating the initiative petition process,” wrote Walker, an appointee of ...