Florida voters have rejected Amendment 4, a measure that sought to establish a constitutional right to abortion and block restrictions before fetal viability, around 22 weeks of pregnancy. According to Decision Desk projections, the amendment’s defeat means Florida’s six-week abortion ban, enacted in 2023, remains in place.
Amendment 4 would have allowed abortions before viability and permitted the procedure afterward when “necessary to protect the patient’s health,” as determined by a healthcare provider. Its defeat was celebrated by pro-life advocates, including Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, who called it “a momentous victory for life in Florida and for our entire country.”
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The six-week ban, signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, permits abortions up to 15 weeks in cases of rape, incest, and human trafficking. The state’s Supreme Court upheld this law in April 2024 after Planned Parenthood challenged the previous 15-week ban, affirming Florida’s authority to legislate on abortion.
Opponents of Amendment 4 argued that its language was misleading. Dr. Ana Garcia Iguaran, an OB/GYN in Florida, stated, “The language in the amendment is purposely misleading to suggest that it provides healthcare for pregnant women. In reality, it would provide unlimited, unrestricted access to abortion, even for minors without parental consent.”
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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump voiced opposition to Amendment 4, criticizing both the six-week limit and what he described as Democrats’ extreme positions. “You need more time than six weeks,” Trump told Fox News in August. “At the same time, the Democrats are radical with a nine-month stance, which is just ridiculous. So I’ll be voting no for that reason.”
Amendment 4’s rejection reaffirms Florida’s stance on abortion, upholding one of the most restrictive laws in the nation.
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