**Florida Abortion Amendment Fails to Pass with 57% Voting "Yes"**

In Florida, a significant measure concerning abortion laws was put to vote but fell short of the required supermajority. The amendment needed a 60% majority to pass but managed to garner only 57% support, with 43% of the voters opposing it.

The outcome led to various reactions, particularly from notable figures like Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy. Dungy, an opponent of the amendment, expressed his satisfaction with the results. He praised the voters for not only rejecting the abortion amendment but also for voting against Amendment 3, which proposed the legalization of marijuana. In a statement on social media platform X, Dungy thanked Florida residents for their decision, emphasizing the protection of unborn lives while ensuring that expectant mothers with health risks could still receive necessary treatment.

The amendment's failure has generated considerable discussion, especially given the current six-week abortion ban in Florida, which was implemented in May. Proponents of the amendment argued that this existing ban is excessively restrictive. The proposed amendment sought to ensure that no laws could prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health as determined by their healthcare provider.

Florida was among nine states with measures on the November 5 ballot aimed at protecting access to abortion. Unlike most states, which only require a simple majority for such amendments to pass, Florida's threshold is notably higher at 60%. This heightened requirement reflects a stringent stance on such legislative changes, setting Florida apart from other states.

Governor Ron DeSantis’s role in the amendment's failure has also been a topic of public discourse, with MSNBC host Joy Reid suggesting that he used governmental power to influence the outcome. This assertion underscores the intense political and social debates surrounding the state's abortion laws.

Overall, the defeat of the Florida abortion amendment highlights continuing tensions and differing perspectives on reproductive rights within the state.