Laura Shaw, a senior political science major, said she no longer wants to have children in Florida after Amendment 4, a proposal to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, did not pass. 

“The act of getting pregnant in Florida is risking your life,” Shaw said. “People say that’s an exaggeration, but it’s not. People are dying, and I refuse to risk my life.”

Amendment 4 received around 57% approval statewide, falling short of the 60% required, according to the Florida Division of Elections. 

In the 2024 election, 10 states put abortion issues on the ballot. Florida was one of the three states which rejected the measure, along with Nebraska and South Dakota, according to Ballotpedia.

In Hillsborough County, the amendment garnered 60.82% approval, according to the county’s Supervisor of Elections Office’s official results.

If it had passed, the amendment would have prevented laws from restricting abortion before fetal viability or when needed to protect the patient’s health. Though the amendment does not specify a timeframe, the National Library of Medicine defines fetal viability at around 24 weeks.

Shaw said she cried when the amendment failed. 

“I immediately called my mom and cried,” said Shaw, who voted ‘yes’ on the amendment. “It still makes me upset because I care so much about the people in this state.” 

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Dr. Catherine Lynch from Tampa General Hospital is also a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USF.

Lynch said several of her peers were disappointed by the outcome. She said they expressed concerns about potential future restrictions on contraceptives and medications, like mifepristone, which is used for elective terminations and managing miscarriages.

“Our objective is a healthy mom and a healthy baby,” Lynch said.

Nicole Mercer, a senior cybersecurity major, said she voted ‘no’ on the amendment because she believes life starts at conception.

“I believe that is another human being that’s created, and if that’s the case, we shouldn’t have the right to end that life,” Mercer said.

Mercer said she thinks 24 weeks is too late for an abortion.

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Alexis Hobbs, president of Planned Parenthood Generation Action USFSP, authored a Student Government (SG) resolution in favor of the amendment. It passed unanimously in the SG Senate the week before the election. 

Florida’s abortion ban is set at six weeks, with exceptions for saving the pregnant woman’s life or in cases of rape, incest and human trafficking, according to the Florida Statutes. 

Hobbs said the current ban is “extreme” and has limited exceptions.

“I truly believe that healthcare is a basic human right and abortion is healthcare,” Hobbs said.

If someone performs or participates in an abortion without meeting the legal requirements for these exceptions, they can be charged with a felony under Florida Statute Section 390.0111.

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Michael Fusella, a junior finance major and president of USF College Republicans, voted ‘no’ on the amendment. He said it was a difficult decision because, while he disagreed with the 24-week timeline, he also felt that six weeks was not enough.

“You should have access to abortion,” Fusella said. “It should be safe, but it should also be rare.” 

Fusella said he is “glad” the current ban includes exceptions but was surprised the amendment didn’t pass. 

“I almost thought Amendment 4 had a chance of getting that 60%,” Fusella said.

Shaw said abortion should not be a political issue. She said the government should “only” intervene in healthcare to ensure it is safe and affordable.

“The entire point of the amendment was to allow qualified, board-certified physicians to make healthcare decisions,” Shaw said. “The Florida legislature does not have the qualifications, expertise or education to make those.”