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The Florida Supreme Court ruled Monday to approve a ballot measure that could expand access to abortions, while another ruling would have paved the way for a strict six-week ban. Abortion will officially be on the ballot in Florida this fall.
This ballot measure would guarantee access to abortion throughout life, typically 24 weeks into pregnancy. This gives Floridians the chance to essentially vote on whether to reinstate the former federal standard set in Roe v. Wade before the U.S. Supreme Court overturns this landmark case in 2022. I was able to do that.
The Florida decision also gives abortion access advocates a chance to add to their list of state-level victories.
In a separate ruling Monday, the state Supreme Court rejected a challenge to current Florida law, which allows abortions up to 15 weeks into pregnancy. The court disagreed with the argument that Florida’s privacy protections extend to protect abortion rights.
Their decision allows another state law backed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and others to go into effect within 30 days, lowering the limit to six weeks.
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If passed, a recently approved ballot measure would override those laws and restrictions.
Republican officials in Florida have long fought for abortion regulations in the state, including Mr. DeSantis’ signature six-week abortion ban.
But at the heart of the state Supreme Court’s voting decision this week was the text of the constitutional amendment, which opponents argued was too complex for voters to understand. The court heard arguments in early February, at which time it upheld the bill’s language.
Chief Justice Carlos Muniz, a DeSantis appointee, said at the time that “Floridians are not stupid. They can understand that.”
Anna Hochkamer, executive director of the Florida Women’s Liberation Union, said during a virtual town hall last week that activists fighting for expanded abortion rights are in “uncharted territory” heading into Monday. The state Supreme Court typically issues its opinion at 11 a.m. Thursday, but it waited until April 1, the deadline set by the Florida Constitution, to issue its decision.
Hochkamer said Thursday it’s “full steam ahead” for them.
“This is probably the most pressing political issue in America right now,” Hochkammer said at City Hall.
“The Dobbs decision told the states that it’s their job to present this to voters so they can decide. Florida plans to do that in November,” Roe v. Wade said. he added, referring to the lawsuit that was overturned. “And we’re going to win.”
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