69% of Floridians support abortion rights amendment, new poll finds

Video above: Amendments on abortion, marijuana ‘will make Florida more blue’ and ‘mess up the state,’ DeSantis says

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A new Florida poll indicates that the abortion rights and recreational marijuana amendments appearing on the ballot this November have enough support to pass.

Nearly 70% of the voters surveyed said they would vote “yes” on Amendment 4, which would enshrine the right to abortion in the Florida Constitution, according to the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab . The lab polled a group of 774 Florida voters made up of Republicans (41%), Democrats (35%) and Independents (24%).

23% of the Floridians surveyed indicated they would vote against the abortion rights measure.

The poll results showed majority support for Amendment 4 from Republican voters. 53% indicated they would vote affirmatively, while 37% said they would vote “no.” Democrats overwhelmingly approve of the measure (87%).

Amendment 4 advocates worry a new financial disclaimer that appears on the ballot could discourage “yes” votes. A panel dominated by Republican leaders’ appointees wrote a statement claiming there will be loss of tax revenue and litigation costs if the measure takes effect.

Republican officials, like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, publicly oppose Amendment 4 and maintain that the ballot summary is vague and intentionally confusing for voters. That’s even after the DeSantis-stacked Florida Supreme Court gave it their approval .

Floridians Protecting Freedom, the group behind the abortion rights amendment, is suing over the financial impact statement drafted by the panel, which they called “misleading” and “politically motivated.”

“We have yet to see campaigns on either side of this really get moving,” lab faculty director and professor of political science Dr. Michael Binder said. “Factor in the highly contested and contentious financial impact statement recently added to the ballot summary, and I would expect to see support for this amendment drop before November.”

The UNF poll indicates the majority of Floridians also support Amendment 3, which would permit adults 21 and older to buy marijuana from licensed dispensaries. 64% of those surveyed said they would vote “yes” on the measure if the election was held today.

“It’s not too clear yet how much money will be injected into the campaign against this amendment,” Binder said. “If the opposing organizations ramp up their campaigns, we may see this number come down, depending how much cash is spent in opposition.”

While the vast majority of Democrats (79%) said they would vote “yes,” Republicans are more divided on the issue. 50% support the measure, while 43% do not.

A supermajority of independent voters also indicated support for Amendment 3 (63%) and Amendment 4 (71%).

In order for the ballot measures to pass, at least 60% of voters must vote “yes” in November.

For more information about the poll and its methodology, visit the UNF Public Opinion Research Lab’s website .

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