Florida's proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion access failed, even though more than half the voters approved it. Why?

MIAMI - Florida's six-week abortion ban will remain law after voters rejected Amendment 4, a measure that would have enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution. The amendment failed to reach the 60% threshold needed to pass, garnering only 57% of the vote.

Voters defeated a measure to add abortion rights to the Florida state constitution on Tuesday, rejecting a bid to overturn the state's 6-week ban

If passed, Florida's measure - Amendment 4 - would overturn the six-week abortion ban currently in effect here and expand access to the point of foetal viability, which is about 24 weeks of pregnancy. It could also be later "when necessary to protect the patient’s health", according to the measure's wording.

Supporters of Amendment 4 say the result shows voters don’t want a six-week abortion ban. But Republican lawmakers, reelected and retaining a supermajority in Tallahassee, disagree.