After Florida Supreme Court Approves Abortion Ban At 6 Weeks, Democrats Seek To Overturn It In November

On Monday, the Florida Supreme Court upheld a state ban on abortion at six weeks of pregnancy.

Though the right-leaning court ruled in favor of the GOP-led ban on abortion, it also ruled that a ballot initiative seeking to protect abortion can go before voters in November.

Now, Democrats are seeking to capitalize on the unpopular ban to energize their voters to turn out in November.

The 4-3 ruling on the ballot initiative may threaten Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and other state conservatives who have passed strict abortion laws that ban the procedure at 15 weeks without exceptions for rape and incest. State Republicans then passed a six-week ban that will go into effect within 30 days of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

In recent months, thousands of patients from states with more restrictive laws, such as Alabama and Texas, have sought the procedure in Florida. Monday’s ruling signals the end of these pursuits.

If 60% of voters approve a ballot measure before November, however, patients seeking an abortion will still be able to travel to Florida for the procedure.

DeSantis-appointed Justices Renatha Francis, Jamie Grosshans and Meredith Sasso dissented with the majority opinion, arguing that the amendment’s impact will be greater than what voters are led to believe at the ballot box.