From the Miami Herald

A judge Thursday struck down the Florida Legislature’s proposed constitutional amendment concerning political districts because, he said, it is too confusing for voters to understand.

Amendment 7 was drafted by the Republican-led Legislature in response to two other proposed amendments that a liberal-leaning citizens’ group placed on the ballot. Those amendments, 5 and 6, would make it tougher for lawmakers to draw political districts that favor a political party or an incumbent.

The Legislature’s proposal — which lawmakers said would “clarify” the amendments of the Fair Districts Florida group — created far more confusion, Tallahassee Circuit Judge James Shelfer said in a ruling from the bench.

“I can hardly think that the average voter going in the voting booth would be able to make an informed decision,” Shelfer said. “It took me three days — in reading all of these cases, reading all of these briefings, hearing all of your arguments — to get a handle on what this amendment did and its effect on the existing laws and the Constitution.”

A written ruling by Shelfer is expected in the next few days. The case is likely to be appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.

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