- A law change in Florida allowing abortions after the 6th week of pregnancy was supported by 57% of the vote - but not enough
- The fight to ban abortion has made its way into local TV commercials
- Abortion initiative fiasco marks victory for Republican Governor DeSantis
A law change in Florida allowing abortions after the 6th week of pregnancy was supported by 57% of the vote - but not enough
In the United States, Florida has actively proposed to allow abortions later than 6 weeks' gestation. In the end, however, the six-week abortion ban was upheld. This means that abortion is prohibited after 6 weeks. The amendment received 57% support, but, in the midst of the US presidential elections, it did not reach the 60% threshold, which is quite a high threshold. The result is a blow to abortion rights advocates, who argue that many women do not even know that they are pregnant during the sixth week of pregnancy.
The subject is serious and has been raised as far back as 1973[1].
At that time, the US Supreme Court spoke about the constitutional right to abortion, legalising abortion throughout the country, especially in the first trimester. This was based on women's right to privacy while also attempting to take into account the interests of the states in protecting fetal life. However, in 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the federal constitutional right to abortion, giving individual states the right to regulate abortion laws as they see fit.
Despite the setback, abortion advocates in Florida have expressed their determination to continue their efforts to ensure access to abortion in the state. This battle is heralded as one of the hottest in the electoral cycle.
The fight to ban abortion has made its way into local TV commercials
The fiasco of the initiative is a setback for abortion advocates - but a victory for Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. The amendment in question was supposed to open the door to legal abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. However, in the final six weeks of pregnancy, abortion remained strictly forbidden in the state.
DeSanti's opposition to the proposal, which was voted on by the abortion rights group Floridians Protecting Freedom, has been met with a barrage of criticism and legal challenges. He has also had to fend off accusations of misuse of public resources. By initiating certain marketing strategies to oppose the amendment on abortion, it has divided the nation, giving rise to a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union.
"The government may not do so inaccurately, misleadingly, or abusively in educating the electorate about the purpose and consequences of the proposed constitutional amendment," the lawsuit, filed in September, says[2]. The plaintiffs are convinced that the state's "actions in relation to the abortion amendment were inaccurate, misleading, offensive and deceptive".
DeSantis also allegedly used taxpayers' money to buy controversial TV ads promoting the campaign, which deepened critics' concerns that state resources were being misused. As if this were not enough, the latter's administration has sent letters threatening criminal charges against public television stations if they air political advertisements in support of the abortion amendment. Jessica Rosenworcel, Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, rebuked this move.
"Broadcasters have the right to speak freely. <...> Threatening broadcast stations that air content that contradicts their views undermines the fundamental principle of free speech," said Rosenworcel, a Democrat[3].
Florida Governor DeSantis is known to have taken drastic steps to restrict abortions in 2022, signing into law a bill banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, except for exceptions related to health risks. The law did not include exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking.
In April 2023, DeSantis further tightened abortion restrictions by signing a six-week abortion ban, commonly referred to as the "heartbeat law". Although the legislation covers cases of rape, incest or trafficking for up to 15 weeks, it requires documented proof of the crime. The law also imposes penalties on medical providers by restricting access to abortion drugs.
Abortion initiative fiasco marks victory for Republican Governor DeSantis
Normally, state resources are reportedly not used for campaigns such as DeSantis. But his efforts seem to have paid off: the courts did not intervene in this political battle. It is estimated that 75% of conservatives and 70% of Republicans opposed the amendment.
Another ballot measure that DeSantis opposed was an effort to legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida, which also failed on Tuesday. The results - both marking the collapse of abortion rights and drawing the line between recreational marijuana use - represent a political victory for the latter.
R. DeSantis is an American politician and attorney who has served as Florida's 46th Governor since 2019. Born on 14 September 1978 in Jacksonville, Florida, he holds degrees from Yale University and Harvard Law School. He also served as Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Navy, including a deployment to Iraq. He represented Florida's 6th congressional district in the US House of Representatives from 2013 to 2018. As Governor, DeSantis has been characterized by his ultra-conservative policies. After suspending his presidential campaign in 2024, he made no secret of his preference for the newly elected US President Donald Trump.
