Florida Rejects Abortion Rights Amendment, Backs Six-Week Ban \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ In a significant political win for Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida voters rejected a measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, preserving the state’s existing six-week abortion ban. The decision marks the first post-Roe victory for abortion opponents, highlighting the deep divisions across the U.S. as other states, like Maryland and New York, advanced measures supporting abortion rights.
Florida Abortion Rights Vote Quick Looks
- Ballot Defeat in Florida: Florida voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to secure abortion rights, upholding the state’s current six-week abortion ban.
- Political Win for DeSantis: Governor Ron DeSantis and the GOP campaigned strongly against the measure, marking a major victory for the governor.
- Broader Impact: This is the first abortion rights ballot loss for advocates since Roe v. Wade was overturned, with abortion measures remaining key in the 2024 election cycle.
- Contrasting State Approaches: Maryland and New York passed measures supporting abortion access, underscoring the national divide in abortion policy.
- Mixed Ballot Outcomes Nationwide: Similar measures on abortion rights appeared in several states with varied outcomes, signaling ongoing battles in state and federal courts over abortion laws.
Deep Look
The proposed amendment, which needed 60% of the vote to pass, fell short of this threshold, contrasting with the simpler majority required in most states. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, celebrated the result, calling it “a momentous victory for life” in Florida. DeSantis and his administration mounted a considerable campaign against the amendment, contributing state GOP funds and implementing aggressive measures to deter its passage. The governor’s team questioned petitioners and even issued warnings to television stations airing ads in support of the amendment, signaling a strong state-backed opposition.
Abortion policy was a decisive issue in this election cycle, with about 25% of voters identifying it as their top concern according to AP VoteCast, a survey that polled over 110,000 voters nationwide. Roughly half of all surveyed voters said abortion was an important factor, though not the most critical, and only about 10% said it was a minor factor in their decision-making. This interest reflects the growing influence of abortion rights as a primary electoral issue, especially in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision.
Despite a wave of fundraising support, abortion rights advocates lost their first statewide ballot initiative since Roe was overturned. Before Tuesday, they had successfully defended or expanded abortion rights in all seven state-level measures since the 2022 Dobbs decision. Campaign funding for abortion rights measures has been robust, with a notable focus on characterizing bans as overly strict rather than morally wrong. As of now, 13 states enforce total abortion bans with some exceptions, while four more states impose bans after roughly six weeks—an early cutoff that can affect many women before they even realize they’re pregnant. The overall impact of these bans has been mixed; while abortion procedures have slightly increased through the use of abortion pills and organized travel efforts, barriers persist for lower-income women and those in minority communities.
The abortion issue continues to resonate within the presidential race. Vice President Kamala Harris has branded current abortion bans as “Trump abortion bans,” referencing Trump’s role in the Supreme Court’s conservative majority that led to Roe’s overturning. Trump has vacillated in his stance on abortion, calling for state-level decisions but also pledging to veto a national abortion ban should one pass. His evolving position reflects the challenge he faces in balancing anti-abortion voter expectations with the broader national preference for abortion rights.
In Democratic-led Colorado, a ballot measure sought to integrate abortion access into the state constitution, with additional provisions to remove financial barriers to care. Montana and Nevada also considered measures that could determine future access policies. Notably, Nevada’s divided state government requires the measure to pass again in 2026 to take effect. With the U.S. Senate seat and the 2024 presidential election in play, ballot measures concerning abortion could significantly influence the outcome of these contests.
Florida Rejects