Amendment 4: Florida Voters to Weigh Abortion Ballot Measure

Florida voters will decide this fall whether to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

Amendment 4, which was approved by the state Supreme Court in June, would add explicit language to the Florida Constitution stating that "Every individual has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding that individual's own reproductive health, including the right to terminate a pregnancy before viability." The amendment would also overturn a 2016 law that requires minors to obtain parental consent before obtaining an abortion.

The amendment is the culmination of a years-long effort by abortion rights activists to protect access to the procedure in Florida.

If passed, it would be one of the strongest abortion rights protections in the country. However, the amendment faces an uphill battle. Florida is a conservative-leaning state, and polls show that a majority of voters oppose abortion.

The vote on Amendment 4 is expected to be close.

Both sides of the issue are expected to spend heavily on advertising and campaigning in the run-up to the election. The outcome of the vote could have a significant impact on access to abortion in Florida and across the country.

Here are some additional details about Amendment 4:

• The amendment was approved by the state Supreme Court in June.
• If passed, it would add explicit language to the Florida Constitution stating that "Every individual has a fundamental right to make decisions regarding that individual's own reproductive health, including the right to terminate a pregnancy before viability."
• The amendment would also overturn a 2016 law that requires minors to obtain parental consent before obtaining an abortion.
• The vote on Amendment 4 is expected to be close.
• Both sides of the issue are expected to spend heavily on advertising and campaigning in the run-up to the election.
• The outcome of the vote could have a significant impact on access to abortion in Florida and across the country.