Poll suggests Florida abortion protection amendment has enough support to pass

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A new poll conducted in Florida found that the abortion ballot initiative voters will decide on this November could have enough support to pass.

Released by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the poll placed the abortion initiative’s support at 61%.

It found that 29% oppose, and 10% remain unsure.

The same poll found that the amendment to legalize recreational usage of marijuana falls short of its necessary margin to pass, garnering 58% support, 37% opposition and 5% unsure.

Amendments need 60% of the vote to take effect in Florida’s Constitution. A poll recently found the effort shy just a few points of necessary support for passage, and another found it considerably more short.

Entitled “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion,” the abortion initiative was permitted ballot placement by the Supreme Court of Florida on the same day that court upheld Florida’s 15-week abortion ban, which allowed the heartbeat law to take effect for six weeks.

The poll is the first to find the amendment passing since the court ruled on its placement.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party of Florida oppose the abortion amendment, and DeSantis has warned not only will it thwart protections for fetuses with detectable heartbeats, but it will strip parental consent rights for underaged abortions.

Below is the summary of the ballot initiative:

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.

Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion

Notably, the summary states that “no law” can bar abortion “before viability,” except to protect the health of the mother. The summary also only says the legislature can require “notification to a parent or guardian” for a minor having an abortion – with no mention of an exception for parental consent.

Current Florida law does require consent of the parent or guardian.

The poll released Friday was conducted April 28 to May 7 by Cherry Communications among 609 likely voters. The partisan breakdown is 36.6% Democratic, 42% Republican and 21.3% “Others.”

DeSantis expressed his concerns with both amendments, confidently saying that Floridians will make the right choice and oppose the initiatives.

“Once voters figure out how radical both of those are, they’re going to fail,” he said at a press conference. “They’re very, very extreme.”

“The weed one is not just decriminalize, it’s basically a license to just have anywhere you want. No time, place and manner restrictions.” DeSantis argued. “This state will start to smell like marijuana in our cities and towns. It will reduce the quality of life.”