Supporters and foes of Florida's abortion rights amendment ramp up their messaging

Supporters and opponents of abortion rights in Florida are ramping up their final efforts to reach voters before Election Day with messages they hope will sway opinions on Amendment 4.

The item on the November ballot would, with 60% approval of voters, amend the state constitution to expand access to abortion until a fetus is viable, replacing the state's six-week ban on most abortions.

The current law, which took effect on May 1, 2024, has exceptions for the pregnant woman’s health, and for victims of rape and incest up to 15 weeks of pregnancy.

---

New Local Program: 'Speaking Of' from WFSU Public Media

We’re all about “keeping it real, keeping it simple, and keeping it local.” We’ll dive into tough topics but also make sure to have some fun along the way.

---

The language of Amendment 4, formally titled “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion,” 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."

Among those pushing a "No" vote is Archbishop Thomas Wenski, who heads the Archdiocese of Miami.

"Every human being should be protected by law and welcomed in life at any stage of his development from conception till natural death," he told WLRN.

“I tell people, ‘Listen, I'm a bishop. I don’t have a Glock on my hip.’ So I can’t impose my views on anybody,” he said to WLRN. “The only thing I can do is make my proposal.”

Verónica Zaragovia

His proposal is for voters to reject Amendment 4. The Archdiocese has a web page with videos and written arguments against it. He has asked clergy at his churches to educate parishioners about the ballot item.

“Even those that might be in favor of abortion in some circumstances should find things in this amendment, things that would concern them,” Wenski said.

Wenski and other opponents point to the amendment language — the focus of many videos and social media posts put out by the “Vote No on 4” campaign, under Florida Voters Against Extremism. This political action committee has received more than $322,000 from the Archdiocese of Miami.

In one ad, a narrator says Amendment 4 would not allow any law to restrict abortion before viability, “but never defines viability”.

Viability is defined in Florida Statutes as “the stage of fetal development when the life of a fetus is sustainable outside the womb through standard medical measures”, which is typically agreed to begin around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Florida Physicians Against Amendment 4, a group of doctors around the state, take issue with other words in the text of the amendment, and words that are left out — like "doctor".

In one post on the group's Instagram account, Dr. Anthony Pohlgeers, a pediatric emergency medicine specialist in Florida, lists them: "How do they define 'patient's health'? Who is this 'healthcare provider'? Where is the mention of physician? And what's up with notification without requirement for parental consent in minors that present for an abortion? Too many questions, not enough answers. I'm voting no on Amendment 4 and I hope you do, too."

READ MORE: Liberals and conservatives try energizing voters with Florida's abortion amendment

Supporters of Amendment 4, have been focusing their messaging on what they call government overreach from Florida’s strict six-week ban on almost all abortions.

The PAC behind Amendment 4, Floridians Protecting Freedom, launched a paid ad campaign, “Yes on 4”, in September that also includes doctors in the state.

“The ban…could send doctors like me to prison just for treating my patients,” said Dr. Jerry Goodman, a Sarasota specialist in obstetrics in gynecology, in a recent ad. “That’s terrifying and it’s why I’m voting yes on 4 to end the ban, so government can’t stop women from getting life saving care.”

Other supporters are going door-to-door, like Mi Vecino, an organization focused on voter education and mobilization.

“It is our official first day in Palm Beach County!” said Devon Murphy-Anderson to Mi Vecino colleagues who were clapping on a hot Monday, afternoon in Palm Springs. They're gathered in a parking lot before heading out for canvassing.

Murphy-Anderson, who’s Mi Vecino’s co-founder and chief executive officer, is also Catholic. She supports abortion rights, like 6 out of 10 Catholics in the U.S., according to the Pew Research Center.

“A lot of the folks here are Catholic. We understand the core principles of Catholicism, which is that we are gifted free will and conscience from God,” she told WLRN.

One of Mi Vecino’s lead canvassers, Alexander Valdes, stopped at the home of one voter in Palm Beach County who said he didn't know much about the ballot item.

Verónica Zaragovia

“Most people are not always online following politics,” Valdes said. “They’re just living regular lives. They’re doing what they have to do, but politics does very much affect them.”

The latest polls show a large percentage of likely Florida voters — at least one in five — are still trying to make up their mind about Amendment 4. Those polls also show support for the amendment is about 55% — less than the 60% required for passage.

“These voters that don’t know how they would vote if faced with the ballot initiative could go either way come November,” said Luzmarina Garcia Ph.D., assistant professor of political science at FAU.

Mi Vecino has organized phone banking, like one in partnership with a group called Men4Choice on Sept. 6.

“This is not just a women’s issue. This is a man’s issue, and it’s a family issue,” said Alex Berrios, Mi Vecino’s co-founder and chief operating officer, speaking to male volunteers about why they should get involved on this issue. “It was really, really important to be able to have choices in life, opportunities in life, and I’ve worked really, really hard to be able to provide those kind of choices and opportunities for my son.”

If Amendment 4 passes with a 60% approval, legal experts predict the language surrounding undefined terms of an abortion will be challenged in court.

Copyright 2024 WLRN Public Media