Fla. Rejects Ballot Measure Barring Abortion Funding, Altering Privacy Rights

November 7, 2012 — Florida voters on Tuesday defeated a ballot initiative (Amendment 6) that would have amended the state constitution to explicitly exclude a broader right to abortion than is protected under the U.S. Constitution and ban public funding for abortion in most cases, the AP/Palm Beach Post's "Election Center Blog" reports ("Election Center Blog," AP/Palm Beach Post, 11/6).

The measure was supported by 44% of voters, significantly less than the 60% of voters needed for its enactment (Viebeck, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 11/6).

The Florida Supreme Court cited a privacy clause in the state constitution in striking down previous parental consent and notification laws for minors seeking abortion care. Supporters of the amendment said the change would have cleared the way for enactment of a parental consent law in Florida (Women's Health Policy Report, 10/12).

Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement commended Florida voters for joining "a national movement to wholly reject these attacks on reproductive freedom and to demand stronger protections for reproductive rights" ("Healthwatch," The Hill, 11/6).