Case Name: FLORIDIANS AGAINST EXPANDED GAMBLING, The Humane Society of the United States, and Grey2k USA, Inc., Appellants, v. FLORIDIANS FOR A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD; Glenda E. Hood, in her official capacity as Secretary of State; The Department of State, Brenda C. Snipes, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Broward County; John Stafford, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Duval County; Bonnie M. Jones, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Escambia County; Peggy Rae Border, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Flagler County; Buddy Johnson, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Hillsborough County; Ion Sancho, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Leon County; Constance Kaplan, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Miami-Dade County; Vicki P. Cannon, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Nassau County; Patricia Hollarn, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Okaloosa County; Bill Cowles, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Orange County; Kurt Browning, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections for Pasco County; Theresa Leporte, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Palm Beach County; Deborah Clark, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Pinellas County; P. Douglas Wilkes, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Santa Rosa County; Penny L. Halyburton, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of St. Johns County; and Deanie Lowe, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Vo-lusia County, Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2006-11-30
Citations: 945 So. 2d 553
Docket Number: No. 1D05-0575
Parties: FLORIDIANS AGAINST EXPANDED GAMBLING, The Humane Society of the United States, and Grey2k USA, Inc., Appellants, v. FLORIDIANS FOR A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD; Glenda E. Hood, in her official capacity as Secretary of State; The Department of State, Brenda C. Snipes, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Broward County; John Stafford, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Duval County; Bonnie M. Jones, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Escambia County; Peggy Rae Border, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Flagler County; Buddy Johnson, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Hillsborough County; Ion Sancho, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Leon County; Constance Kaplan, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Miami-Dade County; Vicki P. Cannon, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Nassau County; Patricia Hollarn, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Okaloosa County; Bill Cowles, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Orange County; Kurt Browning, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections for Pasco County; Theresa Leporte, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Palm Beach County; Deborah Clark, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Pinellas County; P. Douglas Wilkes, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Santa Rosa County; Penny L. Halyburton, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of St. Johns County; and Deanie Lowe, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Vo-lusia County, Appellees.
Judges: BROWNING, C.J., WEBSTER, and LEWIS, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 945
Pages: 553–570

Head Matter:
FLORIDIANS AGAINST EXPANDED GAMBLING, The Humane Society of the United States, and Grey2k USA, Inc., Appellants, v. FLORIDIANS FOR A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD; Glenda E. Hood, in her official capacity as Secretary of State; The Department of State, Brenda C. Snipes, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Broward County; John Stafford, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Duval County; Bonnie M. Jones, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Escambia County; Peggy Rae Border, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Flagler County; Buddy Johnson, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Hillsborough County; Ion Sancho, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Leon County; Constance Kaplan, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Miami-Dade County; Vicki P. Cannon, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Nassau County; Patricia Hollarn, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Okaloosa County; Bill Cowles, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Orange County; Kurt Browning, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections for Pasco County; Theresa Leporte, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Palm Beach County; Deborah Clark, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Pinellas County; P. Douglas Wilkes, in his official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Santa Rosa County; Penny L. Halyburton, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of St. Johns County; and Deanie Lowe, in her official capacity as the Supervisor of Elections of Vo-lusia County, Appellees.
No. 1D05-0575.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
Nov. 30, 2006.
John H. Pelzer of Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell, P.A., Ft. Laud-erdale; Mark Herron, Thomas M. Findley, and Robert J. Telfer, III, of Messer, Ca-parello & Self, P.A., Tallahassee; and Scott H. Marder, Ft. Lauderdale, for Appellants.
Wilbur E. Brewton and Tana D. Storey of Roetzel & Andress, L.P.A., Tallahassee; Jack M. Skelding, Jr., of Skelding & Cox. P.A., Tallahassee; Ronald L. Book of Ronald L. Book, P.A., Aventura; Marc W. Dunbar of Pennington Moore Wilkinson Bell & Dunbar, P.A., Tallahassee; and Harold F.X. Purnell and Gary R. Rutledge of Rutledge, Ecenia, et al., Tallahassee; Charlie Crist, Attorney General, James A. Peters, Special Counsel, Steven Todd Gold, Deputy Solicitor General, of Office of the Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Appel-lees.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Appellants challenge the legality of placing on the 2004 ballot the proposed constitutional amendment which "Authorizes Miami-Dade and Broward County Voters to Approve Slot Machines in Parimutuel Facility" (the Slots Initiative). The Slots Initiative was approved in the November 2, 2004, general election. See Art. X, § 28, Fla. Const. Appellants claimed the Slots Initiative petition did not satisfy the requirements of Article XI, section 3 of the Florida Constitution because paid petition gatherers committed fraud to obtain signatures, and the names and addresses of the paid petition gatherers were not included, in violation of section 100.371, Florida Statutes, as amended by Chapter 97-13, section 22, Laws of Florida.
The trial court entered final summary judgment, concluding any improper signature gathering was cured by the general election, and recognizing its earlier partial summary judgment refusing to declare the petitions statutorily invalid because the names and addresses of the paid petition gatherers were not included. The trial court distinguished allegations of fraud on the basis that the acts predated the general election and did not relate to the ballot summary. We affirm the trial court's ruling that Florida law does not mandate the invalidation of signature petition forms which do not include the name and address of the paid petition gatherers. See Dock-ery v. Hood, 922 So.2d 258 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006). However, we agree with Appellants that final summary judgment was entered in error on the claim that the petitions failed to comply with Article XI, section 3 of the Florida Constitution.
In determining whether the trial court reversibly erred in granting final summary judgment on Florida constitutional grounds, we are confronted with two questions, each of which is based upon Appellants' factual assertions, which are presumed to be true for purposes of final summary judgment. First, is a failure to comply with mandatory constitutional prerequisites automatically cured, as a matter of law, once an election is held, when a lawsuit challenging compliance is brought prior to the election? Second, is a party who seeks to amend the Florida Constitution and those employed by that party exempt, as a matter of law, from actual compliance with mandatory constitutional prerequisites for amending the Constitution if they create the illusion of compliance through fraudulent activities, and the amendment is subsequently approved by the voters? We answer both questions in the negative.
We reverse on these independent, alternative grounds and remand for a trial to determine whether Appellees failed to obtain the constitutionally required signatures for submission to the voters. If the trial court determines such failure occurred, and no other remaining defenses apply, the trial court should declare the Slots Initiative invalid.
I. BACKGROUND
For citizen initiatives, the Florida Constitution mandates that, prior to placing a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot, the proponent must obtain signed petitions from registered voters equaling 8% of the total ballots cast in the last presidential election statewide and 8% of the voters in at least half of the congressional districts. Art. XI, § 3, Fla. Const.
Appellants alleged Floridians for a Level Playing Field (FLPF), the party sponsoring the Slots Initiative, employed a political consulting group to gather the constitutionally required signed petitions. The petition gatherers were paid up to $6.50 per signed petition. Instead of obtaining actual signatures, the paid collectors committed fraud by forging signatures and fabricating names on a large number of the initiative petitions. Appellants alleged that thousands of Slots Initiative petitions were procured by fraud. FLPF then used the fraudulently signed petitions to deceive the various Supervisors of Elections, and ultimately, the voters, to create the illusion that it had obtained the constitutionally required number and geographic dispersal of signed petitions.
Approximately 20% of the submitted petitions came from Broward County. To check the authenticity of the signatures on those petitions, Appellants obtained a computerized database of the names and addresses of each voter who purportedly signed a petition for the Slots Initiative from the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. Appellants used this database to conduct statistical analyses, telephone number matching, and follow-up interviews.
The results of Appellants' investigation revealed over one-third of the individuals contacted who were identified as signing a petition unequivocally stated they did not sign a petition for the Slots Initiative. Some of the signatories were deceased at the time they allegedly signed their petitions.
Appellants argue their evidence shows that approximately 57% of the petitions contained the name of fictitious persons or forged signatures of actual voters. From their investigation in Broward County alone, Appellants argued they could show FLPF knowingly failed to collect the constitutionally mandated number and dispersal of valid signatures, and only through fraud was FLPF able to create the illusion that it had complied with the mandatory constitutional prerequisites.
Appellants filed their complaint, and their motion for emergency expedited hearing and permanent injunction before the November 2, 2004, election. On October 11, 2004, the circuit court heard Appellants' motion for emergency expedited hearing and injunctive relief. By order dated October 19, 2004, the circuit court ruled that "the matters presented are serious, warrant discovery and record development, but are not suitable for expedited final hearing before the November 2, 2004, election." A few weeks after the election, on January 6, 2005, the circuit court granted final summary judgment on the basis that the general election cured any failure by Appellees to obtain the constitutionally required number of petition signatures, even though Appellees and their agents engaged in fraudulent conduct. The circuit court also concluded that, absent constitutional infirmities, the doctrine of separation of powers dictated courts should not interfere with the method used by the Supervisors' of Elections to verify signatures.
II. NO CURE BECAUSE LEGAL CHALLENGE PRIOR TO ELECTION
In Pearson v. Taylor, 159 Fla. 775, 32 So.2d 826 (1947), the Florida Supreme Court emphasized that there is a difference between cases where a failure to follow procedures has been challenged before the election and those where the challenge is not brought until after the election:
The aggrieved party cannot await the outcome of the election and then assail preceding deficiencies which he might have complained of to the proper authorities before the election. See Payne v. Hodgson, 34 Utah 269, 97 P. 132. It is possible that the opinion in Tacker v. Board of Com'rs. of Polk County, 126 Fla. 15, 127 Fla. 248, 170 So. 458, persuaded the lower court to its conclusion because there we said, in effect, that the filing of' a petition signed by the required numbers of signers was a precedent to any legal election. This statement, like all enunciations of law, must be considered in the light of the factual case before us. There we were dealing with the question raised prior to the election which is not the case here. We have recognized the difference hence it is not necessary to look to other jurisdictions. We have said that the constitution places a mandatory duty on the legislature to follow certain procedure as a necessary prerequisite to bringing about an election to amend the constitution, however, more than once we have said, in substance, that the neglect to follow such procedure was fatal if raised before the election, yet the defect was cured by the election itself. See State ex rel. Landis v. Thompson, 120 Fla. 860, 163 So. 270; Sylvester v. Tindall, 154 Fla. 663, 18 So.2d 892; West v. State of Florida, 50 Fla. 154, 39 So. 412; Crawford v. Gilchrist, 64 Fla. 41, 59 So. 963, Ann. Cas. 1914B, 916.
Id. at 827 (emphasis added). Unlike the facts in Pearson, the challenge by Appellants was brought prior to the election. Accordingly, accepting Appellants' assertions as true that an insufficient number of signatures were obtained, the "neglect to follow such [constitutionally required] procedure was fatal" because the challenge was "raised before the election." Id.
In Crawford v. Gilchrist, 64 Fla. 41, 59 So. 963 (1912), the validity of a constitutional amendment proposed by the Florida Legislature was at issue because of an alleged failure of the Legislature to obtain the requisite number of votes. Id. In ruling that the constitutionally required vote of the legislature on the proposed amendment is a vital element to the amendment's adoption, the Florida Supreme Court stated:
The Constitution mandatorily requires, as an essential prerequisite to the publication and submission of a proposed amendment to the Constitution, that it shall "be agreed to by three-fifths of all the members elected to each House" of the Legislature, thus making the specified legislative action not an immaterial technical form, but a vital element in the adoption of constitutional amendments, from which it would follow that, if - a proposed amendment is adopted before it has been duly agreed to by the Legislature, it does not become a valid part of the existing Constitution. Therefore, the public welfare demands that the questions here raised as to the validity of the proposal of such amendments should be determined as speedily as the laiu will permit so as to avoid unnecessary expense, confusion, and litigation in governmental matters that vitally affect all the people of the state. It is the duty of the courts to facilitate and not to retard the determination of litigated causes.
Id. at 966 (emphasis added). Here, Appellants brought their action and sought relief before the election, but were denied an expedited trial. This denial by the trial court was in error according to the requirement of a speedy resolution as stated in Crawford. It was wrong for the trial court to rule that a trial would not occur before the election because discovery was needed for these "serious" matters, and then enter judgment against Appellants on the basis that, because the election had been held, it cured the minor, technical defects that may have occurred. These inconsistent rulings do not comply with the dictates of Crawford to facilitate rather than retard the determination of litigated causes.
If a proposed amendment is published, submitted to a vote of the people, and adopted "without any question having been raised prior to the election as to the method by which the amendment gets before them, . a favorable vote by the people" will "cure defects in the form of the submission." Armstrong v. Harris, 773 So.2d 7, 18-19 (Fla.2000) (quoting Sylvester v. Tindall, 154 Fla. 663, 669, 18 So.2d 892, 895 (1944)) (emphasis added). Thus, based on Armstrong, a subsequent election can act as a cure only when a challenge has not been raised prior to the election and the challenge involves only a defect in the form of the submission.
Here, before the proposed amendment was placed on the ballot, Appellants challenged the method by which the amendment would be placed before the voters by challenging the authenticity of the submitted petitions and alleging the mandatory constitutional prerequisites for placing the amendment on the ballot were not legally met. Based upon the above cited language from Armstrong and Sylvester, since the defect was challenged before the election, it could not be cured by the election.
III. NO CURE FOR SIGNIFICANT FRAUD
However, even if the proposed amendment had not been timely challenged, a favorable popular vote, standing alone, does not confer automatic validity to a defective constitutional amendment. See Armstrong, 773 So.2d at 18. It is clear that a favorable popular vote cannot cure deception. As Armstrong held, "[a] proposed amendment cannot fly under false colors." Id. at 16. Although Armstrong used this metaphor to represent the constitutional requirement that the true effect of a constitutional amendment must be accurately summarized for the voters, it is equally applicable where a party uses fraud to create the illusion of compliance with mandatory constitutional provisions.
An election cures only minor, technical defects in the form of the submission of the proposed amendment. See id. at 18. In this case, we do not address allegations of innocent but minor and technical errors by initiative proponents. For example, a proponent could in good faith fail to collect an adequate number of signatures, and a state official could in good faith erroneously certify the number as sufficient under law. Another such example could occur where proponents or state officials could fail to publish the proposed initiative in a newspaper of general circulation during the precise designated weeks required by Article XI, section 5 of the Florida Constitution. We need not determine here whether such good-faith errors would be considered cured by an election under Armstrong, and other relevant law. Here, we address a very different issue: whether an election cures fraud purposely designed to thwart the constitutional requirements that a proposed initiative must demonstrate sufficient public support before voters decide whether to revise the state's organic law.
It is well settled that the people of the state have a right to amend their Constitution, and "to require proposed amendments to be agreed to and submitted for adoption in the manner prescribed by the existing Constitution." Crawford, 59 So. at 967-68. The Constitution imposes mandatory requirements that apply across-the-board to all constitutional amendments. Armstrong, 773 So.2d at 14. "Every word of a state Constitution should be given its intended meaning and effect, and essential provisions of a Constitution are to be regarded as mandatory." Crawford, 59 So. at 968. A determination of whether an amendment to the Constitution has been validly proposed "depends upon the fact of substantial compliance or noncompliance with the mandatory provisions of the existing Constitution as to how such amendments shall be proposed." Armstrong, 773 So.2d at 14 (quoting Crawford, 59 So. at 966).
Essential constitutional prerequisites to the publication and submission of a proposed amendment to the Constitution are not immaterial, technical forms, but vital elements in the adoption of constitutional amendments. See Crawford, 59 So. at 966. Without compliance with the mandatory constitutional prerequisites, an adopted amendment "does not become a valid part of the existing Constitution." Id.
The provisions of article XI, section 3, regarding the total number of required petitions seeking placement on the ballot, and the geographic dispersal of those petitions, are essential provisions. See Art. XI, § 3, Fla. Const. Consequently, compliance is mandatory. See Crawford, 59 So. at 966 (noting the constitutional requirement that a proposed constitutional amendment "be agreed to by three-fifths of all members elected to each House" was an essential, mandatory prerequisite for a valid proposed constitutional amendment). As stated by the Florida Supreme Court:
The people of the state have a right to amend their Constitution, and they also have a right to require proposed amendments to be agreed to and submitted for adoption in the manner prescribed by the existing Constitution, which is the fundamental law. If essential mandatory provisions of the organic law are ignored in amending the Constitution of the state, and vital elements of a valid amendment are omitted, it violates the right of all the people of the state to government regulated by law. It is the duty of the courts in authorized proceedings to give effect to the existing Constitution. The proposal of amendments to the Constitution is a highly important function of government that should he performed with the greatest certainty, efficiency, care, and deliberation.
Id. at 967-68 (emphasis added).
Appellants assert that substantial fraud occurred in the petition gathering process, and that the fraud caused there to be an insufficient number and distribution of valid signatures on the petitions. These assertions are not minor, technical defects. We do not comment on whether Appellants may be able to prove their assertions at trial because it is not before us. But fraud is substantial, and not minor, to the extent that, but for the fraudulent actions, the constitutional amendment would not have been presented to the public in the general election. Accordingly, the general election did not operate to cure the fraud. See City of Naples v. Conboy, 182 So.2d 412, 417 (Fla.1965) (stating that "it is a salutary principle of law, which runs through all its branches, that fraud vitiates and annuls everything which it touches"); Yost v. Rieve Enterprises, Inc., 461 So.2d 178, 184 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984) (stating that "[i]t is a fundamental principle of equity that no one shall be permitted to profit from his own fraud or wrongdoing").
If a cure operated in these circumstances, then there would be no recourse for citizen initiative amendments turned over to a rogue organization to gather the required number of signatures "for a price" without concern over whether it obtained valid signatures on the petitions. Nothing would stand in the way of the Florida Constitution's required process being ignored and hijacked through fraud to reach a desired outcome. As stated by the Court in Crawford, the process by which we amend our Constitution matters and is a "highly important function of government that should be performed with the greatest certainty, efficiency, care, and deliberation." 59 So. at 968 (emphasis added). "Deception of the voting public is intolerable and should not be countenanced." Armstrong, 773 So.2d at 20 (emphasis in original). Accordingly, there is no room in the process for fraud that places an amendment on the ballot.
CONCLUSION
For purposes of summary judgment, FLPF admits it presented petitions that contained forged and fictitious names to fraudulently create the illusion that it had complied with the mandatory constitutional prerequisites. Consequently, FLPF did not legally comply with the mandatory constitutional prerequisites. The use of substantial fraud to circumvent mandatory constitutional prerequisites is not the equivalent of a "mere formal or procedural irregularit[y]." Thompson, 163 So. at 276. Accordingly, Appellants' assertions of fraud do not constitute a minor, technical defect in the form of the submission of a proposed amendment.
We reverse the final summary judgment to the extent it was entered on Appellants' claim that the petitions failed to comply with Article XI, section 3 of the Florida Constitution and on separation of powers. We remand for a trial to determine whether Appellees failed to obtain the constitutionally required signatures for submission to the voters. If the trial court determines such failure occurred, and no remaining defenses apply, the trial court should declare the Slots Initiative invalid.
We find that this case presents two questions of great public importance, which we hereby certify to the Supreme Court of Florida as such in accordance with Article V, section 3(b)(4) of the Florida Constitution and Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.030(a)(2)(A)(v):
I. WHETHER VALIDATIONS OF SIGNATURES BY SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS CAN BE CHALLENGED BASED UPON ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD AFTER CERTIFICATIONS OF SIGNATURES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE BALLOT PRINTED AND ABSENTEE VOTING COMMENCED IN ACCORD WITH FLORIDA LAW?
II. WHETHER AN AMENDMENT TO THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION THAT IS APPROVED BY VOTE OF THE ELECTORS MAY BE SUBSEQUENTLY INVALIDATED IF, IN AN ACTION FILED BEFORE THE ELECTION, THERE IS A SHOWING MADE AFTER THE ELECTION THAT NECESSARY SIGNATURES ON THE PETITION PROPOSING THE AMENDMENT WERE FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINED?
BROWNING, C.J., WEBSTER, and LEWIS, JJ., concur.
BENTON, J., concurs in the judgment.
KAHN, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with written opinion in which ERVIN and WOLF, JJ., concur.
PADOVANO, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with written opinion in which BARFIELD, DAVIS, POLSTON, and HAWKES, JJ., concur.
. An order granting summary judgment is reviewed de novo. See Volusia County v. Aberdeen at Ormond Beach, L.P., 760 So.2d 126, 130 (Fla.2000). Summary judgment is proper only if there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id.
. Appellants alleged appellee Floridians for a Level Playing Field ("FLPF") committed massive fraud to create the illusion of compliance with obtaining the requisite number of signed petitions. Ordinarily, whether fraud was actually committed would create a question of material fact, precluding summary judgment. However, for purposes of summary judgment, FLPF does not contest these factual assertions.
. The circuit court's reliance on Krivanek v. Take Back Tampa Political Committee, 625 So.2d 840 (Fla.1993), for the proposition that courts are barred by the doctrine of separation of powers from determining whether fraud was committed in the initiative petition process is misplaced. Krivanek stands for the proposition that election officials are accorded deference in interpreting election laws and performing their duties. Id. at 844-45. It does not stand for the proposition that courts are powerless to correct fraud that has misled the election officials themselves. "The constitution expressly authorizes judicial review of . amendments proposed by citizen initiative." Armstrong v. Harris, 773 So.2d 7, 13-14 n. 18 (Fla.2000) (noting courts have long been the proper forum in which to litigate the validity of such amendments). Therefore, we also reverse the final summary judgment on this basis.
. Defects in the form of submission are "mere formal or procedural irregularities," State ex rel Landis v. Thompson, 120 Fla. 860, 163 So. 270, 276 (1935), such as the proposed amendment being "printed in clear and legible type and a copy thereof conspicuously posted at each voting precinct," Sylvester v. Tindall, 154 Fla. 663, 18 So.2d 892, 895 (1944), or the failure of the Legislature to have the "proposed amendment entered at length upon the journals of the two respective houses." West v. State, 50 Fla. 154, 39 So. 412, 415 (1905).
. The dissent asserts that Appellants conceded during oral argument that there is no difference between fraud and mistake or defect in failing to obtain the requisite number of signatures for placement on the ballot. To the extent Appellants conceded this legal issue, we reject it as erroneous. See Perry v. State, 808 So.2d 268 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002) (ruling that erroneous concessions should not be accepted by an appellate court).
. Moreover, it is difficult to say how the voting public would have voted on the amendment if the public knew it was placed on the ballot by the proponent's fraudulent conduct. "[I]t is impossible to say with any certainty what the vote of the electorate would have been 'if the voting public had been given the whole truth.' " Armstrong, 773 So.2d at 21 (citations omitted). When a voter casts a ballot, it should be based on "the full truth;" "[t]o function effectively — and to remain viable — -a constitutional democracy must require no less." Id.