Anti-abortion groups in Florida are planning to obstruct the implementation of a ballot measure aimed at protecting the procedure, should voters approve the initiative in November. This indicates that the battle over abortion rights in the state is likely to persist long after this year’s elections.
According to Mat Staver, the founder of the anti-abortion group Liberty Counsel, there is a potential lawsuit that could be brought before the Florida Supreme Court if voters approve the initiative. Staver, who previously argued against the ballot measure before the state Supreme Court, expressed his belief that there are grounds for legal action if the initiative is passed.
In an interview, Staver expressed his belief that the opportunity for such a challenge is readily available. He acknowledged that there are still many factors that need to be considered before moving forward, but he stated that it would definitely be the logical next step if the circumstances align.
In a recent conversation with POLITICO, Staver responded to former President Donald Trump’s statement about the possibility of Florida voters changing the state’s stringent abortion restrictions. Trump suggested that the current ban, which prohibits abortions at six weeks of pregnancy, may be subject to modification. It is worth noting that many women are unaware of their pregnancy at this early stage. This six-week ban is scheduled to be implemented in the coming weeks.
In response to the recent ruling by Arizona’s Supreme Court allowing the enforcement of a law from 1864 that restricts abortions to only when a patient’s life is at risk, Trump expressed his disagreement. He believes that the ruling goes too far and is confident that it will eventually be corrected.
Trump’s statement is a strong indication of how abortion has significantly influenced the political scenario leading up to the 2024 election. Over the past few months, Republicans nationwide have been required to clarify their position on various abortion-related matters, such as the Alabama court ruling that considers frozen embryos as children and the implementation of stringent abortion restrictions, particularly in Florida. Meanwhile, Democrats in crucial swing states like Arizona are leveraging the topic of abortion to mobilize voters before the election. Furthermore, President Joe Biden’s campaign strategy involves utilizing this issue to potentially bring Florida back into a politically balanced state.
Admitting that Trump’s comments have caused harm to the efforts made by Liberty and other anti-abortion groups, Staver acknowledges the impact it has had on their mission to prevent Florida’s ballot measure from passing.
According to Staver, Trump should take more time to consider his statements before making them, as these impromptu remarks may not lead to any productive outcomes. On the contrary, they may have the opposite effect.
State Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book has been a staunch supporter of the ballot initiative effort from its inception. She believes that abortion rights transcend partisan differences. In Florida, where the ballot measure requires 60 percent of voter support to pass, this bipartisan support is crucial. With Republicans holding a significant advantage over Democrats in voter registration by nearly 900,000, the proponents of the ballot referendum, also known as Amendment 4, will undoubtedly require support from both sides of the aisle.
“Although Donald Trump and I may not see eye to eye on many issues, we both recognize the significant voter support for Amendment 4,” Book stated.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, one of the biggest anti-abortion organizations in the nation, is also striving to oppose the abortion referendum. In a statement to POLITICO, Kelsey Pritchard, the director of state affairs for the group, expressed that while they won’t disclose specifics, the proposal which demands a 60 percent vote presents a significant obstacle.
According to Pritchard, it will be challenging for abortion activists to gain the necessary support in Florida, a red state where Governor DeSantis won by a significant margin in 2022. With their unsuccessful attempts to achieve 60 percent wins in the purple states of Michigan and Ohio, it seems unlikely that they will be able to garner the same level of support in Florida, especially considering that a majority of residents in the state support heartbeat protection.
According to Staver, the Florida Supreme Court’s opinion on April 1st has created an opportunity for anti-abortion groups to make use of the personhood argument. This is due to a provision in the state Constitution’s Declaration of Rights, which guarantees rights for “all natural persons.” In the opinion, three out of the seven justices stated that the court has not yet determined whether fetuses are included in this definition.
Conservative Justice Jamie Grosshans expressed her dissenting opinion, highlighting the court’s failure to address the issue of whether fetuses should be granted rights.
In a recent statement, Grosshans emphasized the importance of providing citizens with information, regardless of the court’s actions on a particular issue. According to Grosshans, silence should not hinder an individual’s right to be informed. By being made aware of any conflicts, voters can make their own judgments and understand the potential implications of an amendment that offers extensive protection for abortion, particularly in relation to the constitutional personhood rights of unborn children.
