Florida Investigates Abortion Petition Signatures Amid Controversy

Officials probe potential fraud in ballot measure signatures as six-week abortion ban leads to significant drop in procedures.

Florida law enforcement is investigating voters who signed a petition for an abortion rights measure, raising concerns of voter intimidation.
The investigation, defended by Governor Ron DeSantis, targets potential fraud in the gathering of over 900,000 signatures submitted in January.
Abortion-rights advocates report a 30% decrease in clinician-provided abortions in Florida since the six-week ban took effect in May.
The six-week ban has significantly impacted out-of-state patients, with many forced to travel long distances to access abortion services.
The ballot measure, Amendment 4, aims to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution but faces challenges including a required 60% voter approval.