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Florida campaign gathers enough signatures for abortion ballot measure
Live Action News ^ | January 9, 2024 | Bridget Sielicki

Posted on 01/10/2024 4:27:28 PM PST by Morgana

A Florida campaign to make abortion a constitutional “right” in the state has announced that it has gathered enough signatures to potentially put the measure on the ballot in November.

The Florida Division of Elections has verified over 911,000 signatures, which is more than the 891,500 required by the state to put the ballot measure before voters. The signatures were gathered by Floridians Protecting Freedom, a political committee supported by the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, the American Civil Liberties Union, and other pro-abortion groups.

The constitutional amendment reads: “No law shall 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. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.”

“We know what will happen if reproductive rights make it onto the ballot in 2024 — just like in every other state since Dobbs, Florida voters will choose to keep the government out of their health care decisions,” said Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party.

Though the initial votes have been collected, the measure’s appearance on the November ballot is not yet secured, as it still needs approval from the state Supreme Court. The court is slated to hear arguments on February 7 regarding the ballot measure language.

The group Florida Voters Against Extremism (FVAE), along with state Attorney General Ashley Moody, has asked the Supreme Court not to accept the measure, because they say that the amendment language is misleading, deceptive, and violates a state requirement that amendments have a single subject. Moody previously filed a brief arguing that the amendment’s language is unclear, particularly because it does not define the terms viability, health, or healthcare provider — a sentiment shared by Aaron DiPietro, political director for Florida Family Action.

“Obviously, a healthcare provider could be an abortion clinic doctor, but it could also be an abortion clinic worker, it could be a foot podiatrist. It could be a physical therapist. It could be a mental health counselor,” DiPietro told the Washington Post. “That’s the broad definition of Florida law of a health-care provider.”

“Whether we’re pro-life or pro-choice individuals talking about this, we need to realize this is an extreme amendment that is uncalled for and completely out of line with the majority views on abortion,” he added.

Abortion in the state is currently legal through 15 weeks of pregnancy. In order for the constitutional amendment to pass in November, it would need to garner 60% of the vote.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: abortion; florida; prolife
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The last thing Florida needs right now is a "constitutional right" to abortion.

Florida FReepers vote NO to this please.

1 posted on 01/10/2024 4:27:28 PM PST by Morgana
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To: Morgana

What right in the Florida constitution would this measure uphold?


2 posted on 01/10/2024 4:29:49 PM PST by Right Brother (Pray for God's intervention to stop UMCRevMom's invasion of Free Republic)
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To: Morgana

Considering what happened in Kansas and Ohio you can say goodbye to Rick Scott. It’s been 18 months since Roe was overturned and what have we done in response to the left besides lose a few winnable house seats? Linda Graham had a response.


3 posted on 01/10/2024 4:32:08 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: Morgana

All the states will legalize abortion, eventually.

4 posted on 01/10/2024 4:32:57 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: Morgana

We’ll see if Florida votes for death.

Like most places, it will act to reduce the number of black folk in the population.

This fight is not over by a long shot.


5 posted on 01/10/2024 4:33:01 PM PST by Candor7 (Ask not for whom Trump Trolls,He trolls for thee!)<img src="" width=500</img>,<a href="">tag</a>)
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To: Right Brother; Morgana

The Pregnant Pigs Amendment...................

https://www.animallaw.info/statute/fl-cruel-confinement-%C2%A7-21-limiting-cruel-and-inhumane-confinement-pigs-during-pregnancy


6 posted on 01/10/2024 4:33:49 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: DIRTYSECRET
It’s been 18 months since Roe was overturned and what have we done in response to the left.

We have to recognize that abortion is an issue where we'll lose and move on.

7 posted on 01/10/2024 4:34:02 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: Morgana

This has nothing to do with abortion, and everything to do with ensuring that lazy Dem voters, mostly single white women, get to the polls to make sure they can kill their babies if they ever “need” to. It’s a double whammy, since weed is also on the ballot in FL this year. Thank God it isn’t a gubernatorial year, but whoever-replaces-Biden will already have a leg up on normal voters with the poke-and-toke voter combination.


8 posted on 01/10/2024 4:45:10 PM PST by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: chajin
This has nothing to do with abortion, and everything to do with ensuring that lazy Dem voters, mostly single white women, get to the polls to make sure they can kill their babies if they ever “need” to.

It's not just the Democrats but the independents who will otherwise vote for the Republicans if it wasn't for the abortion issue.

9 posted on 01/10/2024 4:49:24 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: chajin

If the GOP was wiling to fight a political war they would get this on the primary ballot. These abortion ballot props are a golden ticket for the rats. It will bring out an army of selfish single issue voters who will also vote straight dem.


10 posted on 01/10/2024 4:53:29 PM PST by gibsonguy
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To: Morgana

The Fl state supreme court reviews all these ballots and decides it qualifies or not .
Left media left that out .


11 posted on 01/10/2024 5:02:16 PM PST by ncalburt ( Gop DC Globalists are the evil ones)
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To: Morgana

This isn’t really about abortion as much as these hot button ballot issues are the only way the Democrats can motivate their base and the lukewarm middle to come out to vote in Florida.

Theye used a marijuana legalization measure before, and also the emotion pig rights ballot issue. Yep...pig rights. Motivates the animal rights crowd while not even raising the hackles of anyone but farmers.

And, with all the prostitution in Florida, abortion may get them some serious turnout that they otherwise cannot get. Even Democrats here dislike Biden, so the Dems are desperate to motivate their phantom voters.


12 posted on 01/10/2024 5:02:20 PM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: MinorityRepublican

In Florida it is fairly easy to get constitutional issues on the ballot. Sometimes a constitutional amendment goes away a few years later. This proposed language seems overbroad and may not make it past the Florida Supreme Ct. It gives a Dr the discretion to determine the necessity, which could be any reason, not necessarily a viable medical reason


13 posted on 01/10/2024 5:08:41 PM PST by Oystir
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To: chajin

If the GOP was wiling to fight a political war they would get this on the primary ballot. These abortion ballot props are a golden ticket for the rats. It will bring out an army of selfish single issue voters who will also vote straight dem.


14 posted on 01/10/2024 5:08:41 PM PST by gibsonguy
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To: Morgana
This is a ploy to get a large majority of the women's vote. The women will come out in droves and vote against limiting “reproductive rights” and support democrats.
15 posted on 01/10/2024 5:13:09 PM PST by oldbrowser ( )
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To: MinorityRepublican

Doesn’t matter how “red” the state is, if abortion restrictions are on the ballot, expect hordes of women to comes out to vote for abortion, even if they normally vote Republican.

I think we will find that overturning Roe was an actual setback for the pro-life movement.

It may help Republicans by being a separate ballot item where women can vote for keeping abortion legal, and still vote Republican for other issues.


16 posted on 01/10/2024 5:14:22 PM PST by SauronOfMordor (Either you will rule. Or you will be ruled. There is no other choice.)
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To: Morgana

The GOP must be morons to allow this to happen in ‘24.

This will drive folks to the polls in huge numbers. Every marginal race just got a lot closer.


17 posted on 01/10/2024 5:16:33 PM PST by Vermont Lt (Don’t vote for anyone over 70 years old. Get rid of the geriatric politicians.)
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To: SauronOfMordor
I think we will find that overturning Roe was an actual setback for the pro-life movement.

Most Americans will agree to some restrictions on abortions. Make abortions illegal up to 24 weeks? John Roberts was in favor of keeping Roe vs Wade in place but allowing states to pass laws with more restrictions on abortion. Looks like John Roberts was right.

18 posted on 01/10/2024 5:26:52 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: ncalburt
The Fl state supreme court reviews all these ballots and decides it qualifies or not .

Left media left that out .

"Though the initial votes have been collected, the measure’s appearance on the November ballot is not yet secured, as it still needs approval from the state Supreme Court. The court is slated to hear arguments on February 7 regarding the ballot measure language."

19 posted on 01/10/2024 5:28:38 PM PST by DSH
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To: Morgana

If a voter votes for this amendment, and it passes, will white women have a right to kill an unborn child if she suspects the child will be black?

The ballot language does not make this clear.

This needs to be scrapped and rewritten so people will understand it contains a deadly racist loophole.


20 posted on 01/10/2024 5:43:56 PM PST by jeffersondem
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