The referendum campaign to dial back gerrymandering in Florida reports that registered voters in Leon County, home to the state capital Tallahassee, received robocalls on election eve telling them they will lose seats in Congress and the state legislature if the amendments pass.
"These are absolute lies," said the campaign, calledFair Districts Florida.
"This is not true and obviously calculated to frighten and confuse voters! Amendments 5 and 6 have nothing to do with the number of seats Florida will have in Congress or the Legislature, but rather will ensure that the Congressional and legislative districts we do have will be drawn fairly. Furthermore, the call implies that the amendments would lead to a decrease in funds for important public services, which again has nothing to do with the amendments and is meant to scare voters," said an email from the campaign.
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The two ballot questions have separate wording to regulate post-census redistricting for the US House of Representatives and the Florida House. Opponents have argued that passage will reduce minority and ethnic representation but have not previously resorted to asserting specific numbers of representatives that would be changed.
The campaign said the call says:
This is an urgent Leon voter alert. Vote no on amendments 5 and 6.
They reduce our representation in Tallahassee and Washington by 3 members – yes, 3 members. Fewer representatives mean we won’t get our fair share. Plus money for schools, jobs, health care, seniors, transportation and less minority representation. Less fighting for us.
5 and 6 are bad for Leon County. Stop this special interest, untested constitutional amendment. Vote no on 5 and 6... Leon County can’t afford the risk.
Paid for by protect your vote incorporated.
With voter approval, Amendments 5 and 6 will:
•Prohibit politicians from designing districts to favor themselves or their parties;
•Require them to make the districts compact and community based; and
•Provide stricter protections for minority voters to have the ability to elect representatives."