A state constitutional amendment that would protect abortion access in Florida has received enough signatures of support to appear on ballots in the November election, but a challenge by the state’s attorney general could still block it.
The measure would ban laws that “prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.” Abortions are currently illegal after 15 weeks in Florida.
The measure had received 911,086 signatures as of midday Friday, nearly 20,000 more than the number required to go before voters, according to the state elections division.
Florida is among several states where reproductive rights groups have been gathering signatures to place similar referendums on the ballot in November, when the presidential contest will headline national elections.
Constitutional amendments in Florida must pass with at least 60% of the vote, a greater portion than any statewide abortion measure has yet won.
Even if it doesn’t pass, it’ll push voters to the polls. No idea if it’s enough for Biden to win Florida, but it’s a pretty big boost. Trump’s margin in 2020 was 371,686 with 77% turnout, which compares to 74.5% turnout in 2016. Ohio’s turnout for Issue 1 was 49.6% in an off-year election, compared to 74% in 2020. These ballot measures are extremely motivating for abortion rights supporters in a way that they simply aren’t for pro-birthers.