You might want to vote early in November. Once more balloting will be slowed by a list of amendments offered to the Florida Constitution. It takes awhile to digest them in the voting booth. The fundamental law of Florida, the constitution, is not a solid pier on which to anchor state law. It is more of a floating dock buffeted by regular attempts to add or change it by voters. Offers of amendments may flow from citizen initiatives, a well-heeled lobby or be offered up by the state Legislature. The 11 amendments to the constitution proposed this year were each approved by the required three-fifths majority of the Florida House and Senate.

Some of them are a way of pleasing a block of voters without taking the responsibility of actually passing legislation. Others are designed to limit the lawmaking flexibility of future of future legislators whose constituents have views that do not match up with today’s majority. Some are feel-good lawmaking that does not belong in a state constitution.