Amendment 4 fails; current 6-week abortion ban remains

Florida’s Amendment 4, which aimed to create a constitutional right to abortion, has failed to pass.

The amendment received 57% of the vote, falling short of the 60% vote required to pass.

Florida’s current six-week abortion ban will, therefore, remain in place.

Overview

Amendment 4 proposed adding language to Florida’s Constitution that would limit government interference in a woman’s choice to get an abortion up to the stage of viability.

According to Florida Statute Title XXIX, Chapter 390, 390.011, viability is “the stage of fetal development when the life of a fetus is sustainable outside the womb through standard medical measures.”

As of May 2024, Florida law bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the life of the mother.

Before the six-week ban, Florida legislature allowed abortion procedures until 15 weeks.

Had it passed, Amendment 4 would have prohibited any law from restricting abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the mother’s health, as advised by a medical professional.

During the election, WINK News spoke with two first-time voters who shared their thoughts on the amendment.

Charlie Youngs, an 18-year-old voter, said that when deciding his vote, he considered the mother’s ability to provide and care for the child after birth.

“And the mother, if she wasn’t willingly planning on having a baby, then both their lives can necessarily be completely destroyed,” said Youngs. “Although it could be a gift in disguise, economically trying to have this child survive in this situation, I don’t think it’s the right situation to put them in.”

Miles Smith, also 18, said his religious beliefs were the main reason he voted against the amendment.

“I’ve been taught for my whole life that abortion is wrong and to get rid of an innocent child, although it’s a touchy subject, I don’t believe it should be allowed,” said Smith.

To learn more about this amendment, click here.