Alachua County will be voting for much more than candidates come Tuesday's general election. Ballot issues involving everything from gay rights to casino gambling will be decided.
The most significant issue may be the two questions involving Alachua County's housing and employment discrimination ordinance.
Voters will be asked:
-- Whether they want to prohibit sexual orientation or sexual preference from being introduced as part of any future county laws.
-- Whether they want to repeal an ordinance protecting the rights of people on the basis of sexual orientation.
Supervisor of Elections Beverly Hill said voters who are casting absentee ballots seem to have the most questions about this issue. Many are confused about the language on the ballot cards.
"The one they don't understand is the ordinance repeal," she said.
The ballot issues are listed separately. Charter Amendment 1 -- which is listed first on the ballot -- addresses the inclusion of sexual preference in future laws.
If you believe sexual orientation does not deserve protection under the law, vote yes.
If you believe the county charter should not ban certain groups - such as gays and lesbians - from inclusion in future laws, vote no.
The second question - Initiative Ordinance 1 - seems to cause much more confusion.
It asks if a new ordinance should be created to repeal the county's current discrimination ordinance. The current ordinance, which passed in early 1993, also is known as the Human Rights Ordinance and Fair Housing Ordinance.
If you believe the law protecting people from housing and employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation should be repealed, vote yes. If you would like to see the discrimination ordinance continue to list sexual orientation, vote no.
There also are five proposed state constitutional amendments on the ballot.
If these amendments pass, they will become part of the state constitution and be difficult to repeal. The issues at hand are:
-- The start of the state legislative session. Proposed amendment No. 1 asks if voters want the annual session to begin on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March.
-- Limits on state revenue collection. If amendment No. 2 passes, it will define state revenues and limit how much can be collected by the state.
-- Net fishing. Amendment No. 3, if approved, would limit the use of nets for saltwater fishing in all Florida waters. It defines and details the use of nets for fishing purposes.
-- Revenue limits. If approved, amendment No. 4 would expand the people's rights to initiate constitutional changes limiting the government's ability to raise revenue.
-- Limited casino gambling. Amendment No. 8 would authorize a limited number of gaming casinos in already designated spots across Florida.
If it passes, it will permit casinos at all pari-mutuel sites in the state -- including Ocala Jai-Alai -- and would permit up to five riverboat casinos across the state.
Go to How to Use This Guide or Ballot.