Election Day in Venice: Amendment 3, Your Homestead and City Hall in Plain English

Update, Nov. 3, 10 p.m.: Amendment 3 passed with about 62% of the vote in unofficial results (it needed 60%). The changes described below take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Results become official once the state certifies them.

If you own a home in Venice, Wellen Park or Gran Paradiso and filed for homestead, the line on today's ballot that reaches your property tax bill most directly is Amendment 3. City of Venice voters also have their own municipal races on the same ballot, so this is a good morning for a plain-English rundown.

I'm not here to tell anyone how to vote. Here are the facts as the official sources describe them, plus what is on the City Hall calendar after the votes are counted.

Election Day basics in Sarasota County

According to the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections, polls are open today, Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Election Day you must vote at your assigned polling location, which is printed on your voter information card, and the Find My Precinct tool at SarasotaVotes.gov will confirm it. Bring a current, valid photo ID.

If you still have a vote-by-mail ballot on the kitchen counter, it has to be received by the elections office by 7 p.m. tonight to count.

The Venice City Council races

The City of Venice says its 2026 municipal election takes place today for City Council Seats 1, 2, 5 and 6 and Mayoral Seat 7. Winners will be sworn into office on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 8:30 a.m.

Amendment 3 in plain English

Amendment 3 is a proposed change to the Florida Constitution. Like every constitutional amendment, it needs at least 60 percent of the vote to pass. Here is what it would do, based on Florida property appraiser explainers and the ballot summary:

• A bigger homestead exemption for non-school taxes. Today the homestead exemption is up to $51,411 in 2026. If Amendment 3 passes, the exemption on non-school taxes would be up to $150,000 starting Jan. 1, 2027, and up to $250,000 starting Jan. 1, 2028, with yearly inflation adjustments after that.
• School taxes stay the same. Only the first $25,000 of a homestead's assessed value would remain exempt from school taxes.
• Save Our Homes stays. Assessment increases on homesteaded homes would still be capped at 3 percent or inflation, whichever is less. Portability and the existing senior, veteran, widow and disability exemptions are not changed.
• Second homes and rentals. For non-homestead property, the yearly cap on assessment increases for non-school taxes would drop from 10 percent to 5 percent. That limits how fast the assessed value can climb. It does not cap the tax bill itself.

Timing matters for anyone who has been thinking about making Florida their permanent home. Under the amendment, people who are permanent Florida residents by Dec. 31, 2026 qualify for the larger exemption on the schedule above. People who become residents after that start with a smaller exemption and phase into the larger one in their fifth year. If that describes you, the Sarasota County Property Appraiser's office is the place to confirm the details for your situation.

What supporters and opponents say

Supporters say Florida property taxes have climbed too fast and that a larger exemption gives full-time homeowners meaningful relief. Opponents, including the Florida Sheriffs Association, have warned that less property tax revenue could affect funding for public safety and other local services.

Local governments have run their own numbers. The City of North Port, for example, projects a General Fund gap of about $8.8 million at first and $14.5 million by 2028 if the amendment passes, and says no decisions have been made about how it would respond. Those are the city's projections, not a final outcome either way.

After the votes are counted

City Hall life keeps going this month, and a few dates are on the official calendars right now:

• Newcomer Day, Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Morgan Family Community Center, 6207 W. Price Blvd., North Port. The City of North Port describes it as a free expo with more than 60 organizations.
• Veterans Day Ceremony, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m., at Veterans Park, 13750 Tamiami Trail, North Port, hosted with VFW Post 8203.
• Venice City Council swearing-in, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 8:30 a.m.
• Poinsettia Parade and Festival, Saturday, Dec. 5, 3 to 7 p.m., on the City Center Front Green, 4970 City Hall Blvd., North Port. It is one of the first big holiday events of the season down our way.

What this means for your home

Whatever happens today, the first tax bills that would reflect Amendment 3 would not arrive until November 2027. If you want to understand where your home stands now, start with its current value. You can get a quick estimate on my home value page, or browse what is for sale in Venice and North Port. If you have questions about homestead and buying or selling, reach out and I'll point you to the right people.

Election details come from the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections and the City of Venice; Amendment 3 details come from Florida property appraiser explainers and the ballot summary; North Port dates come from the City of North Port. All were checked on Nov. 2, 2026. Times and details can change, so please confirm with the source before you go.

I'm Scott Swonger, and I've lived in Gran Paradiso since 2017. I'm not a pushy realtor, just a neighbor who loves it here. Want more? Visit scottswongerrealtor.com or text me at 941-600-3534.

Scott Swonger, PA, REALTOR®
HomeSmart Residential & Commercial Realty