TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Abortion access was a big driver at the polls this election, with more than 10 million Floridians casting their ballots on Amendment 4.
The proposal would have created a constitutional right to an abortion in Florida effectively ending the current restrictions on the procedure past the six-week mark.
The proposal fell short of the 60% minimum required to pass.
“Future elections in the state of Florida might see the pendulum swing back to the center and more moderate policies,” said Tara Newsom, a political analyst based in St. Petersburg.
However, Tampa Bay voters surpassed the required threshold.
In Hillsborough County, 60.8 percent of voters approved Amendment 4. In Pinellas County, 63.6 percent of voters approved Amendment 4.
“Although it didn’t pass, it certainly showed that the intent of the voters is that they do not like this six-week ban,” Newsom said. “It might be too draconian. A push too far.”
Abortion rights activists said the fight is not over, and they plan on calling on state lawmakers to repeal the ban during next year’s legislative session.