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Trump’s Voting Disclosures and Florida’s Abortion Measure
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Former President Donald Trump is facing scrutiny following his refusal to reveal his vote regarding Florida’s abortion amendment. The issue has led to a heated exchange as he deflects inquiries about his decision.
On Tuesday, after casting his ballot in Palm Beach, Trump was interrogated twice about how he voted on a measure aimed at safeguarding abortion rights. Should voters approve this amendment, it would bar state legislators from implementing laws that would penalize, prohibit, delay, or impose restrictions on abortion access before the fetus can survive outside the womb—this is typically after 21 weeks of gestation.
Conversely, a rejection of the measure would maintain Florida’s existing stringent six-week abortion law.
When first questioned, Trump sidestepped the issue, focusing instead on his administration’s role in returning abortion regulation to the states, referencing his appointments of three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court—justices whose confirmation led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
After a second prompt for an answer, Trump became confrontational, instructing the reporter to “stop talking about it.”
Historically, Trump has indicated support for the amendment but later reversed his stance, stating his intention to vote against it. In an earlier interview with Fox News in August, he claimed the six-week limit was excessive, suggesting that “you need more time.” Yet, he juxtaposed this view with criticisms of Democrats, pushing back against what he describes as radical positions while reiterating longstanding misconceptions about late-term abortion practices.
Florida is not alone in this electoral climate; voters in eight other states are also deciding whether to amend their state constitutions to include protections for abortion rights. These decisions could significantly influence voter turnout across several key races.
In states such as Arizona, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, the passage of specific amendments may result in lifting current bans or restrictions, thereby restoring varying levels of abortion access to over 7 million women of reproductive age residing in those areas.
Source
abcnews.go.com