Abortion

President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House could mean a push to revoke a federal directive for hospitals to provide emergency abortions. Eased access of abortion pills could also be at risk.

Floridians Protecting Freedom filed a lawsuit last month seeking a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction after the state Department of Health sent threatening letters to broadcasters alleging that the disputed ad posed a public “health nuisance.”

The narrow defeat of Amendment 4 means Florida's six-week abortion ban will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. Abortion funds say they need more money to help people travel out of state for care.

They include the Republicans' continued dominance in the state and Gov. Ron DeSantis' influence in the outcome of the abortion and recreational marijuana amendments.

Among other measures, Florida voters rejected ballot measures that would have enshrined abortion rights, legalized recreational marijuana, and established partisan school board elections.

More than half of Floridians voted to approve a proposal to allow abortions until fetal viability, but it wasn't enough to meet the 60% mark. That means the current six-week abortion ban remains in effect.

The former president was asked twice after casting his ballot in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday about a question that the state’s voters are considering to overturn a ban on abortion after six weeks. The first time he was asked, Trump avoided answering, saying instead of the issue that he did “a great job bringing it back to the states.” Pressed a second time, Trump snapped at a reporter saying “you should stop talking about it.”

Each proposal needs a 60% supermajority to be approved and each has sparked intense statewide campaigns.

State officials say Florida’s six-week abortion ban contains exceptions for women who experience complications like fetal abnormalities. But Thea Thompson says they aren't clear enough and put her health at risk.

The groups promoting abortion-rights amendments on the ballots in nine states have outraised their opponents by more than 6 to 1 and are spending far more on ads. The majority of the money is being raised and spent around the question before voters in Florida.

Over the next several days, voters in 10 states will decide whether to enshrine the right to abortion in their constitutions. One of those states is here in Florida where most abortions after six weeks are currently banned. Some states just require a majority vote to pass ballot measures. In Florida, that threshold is higher.

U.S. District Judge Mark Walker extended a temporary restraining order Tuesday, siding with Floridians Defending Freedom. The group created the ads promoting the ballot question that would add abortion rights to the state constitution if it passes Nov. 5. Walker is extending an order that bars Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo from taking any further action to coerce or intimidate broadcasters that run the commercials.