According to polling data, a majority of Floridians support legislation requiring minors to seek approval from their parents before obtaining an abortion.
The survey was conducted by St. Pete Polls this past Monday and Tuesday. The poll, commissioned by Florida Politics, queried 2,293 registered Florida voters. The results have a 2.0% Margin of Error at a 95% confidence level.
When asked “Would you support the state legislature passing a law requiring people under the age of 18 seeking an abortion to get consent from a parent or guardian?”, 62.5% of those polled responded yes.
Those who responded no was 31.3% and 6.2% responded not sure.
After Senate approval of a parental consent proposal, the Florida House is scheduled (HB 265 and SB 404) to consider the legislation during a Wednesday floor session.
Most people believe the proposal will pass the House and be sent to Governor Ron DeSantis, who has signaled support for a consent requirement.
Florida voters in 2004 passed a constitutional amendment that led to a requirement for parents to be notified before minors have abortions, but a consent requirement would be more restrictive. The current law has a process in which minors can go to court to avoid notifying their parents about having abortions — a so-called “judicial bypass” that also is part of the consent proposal.
Opponents argue the consent requirement does not protect the interest of the minors seek an abortion.
“Florida legislators have a clear interest in protecting adolescent girls’ health and well-being and supporting healthy family communication, but the forced parental consent bill will do the opposite,” said Zama Neff, children’s rights director at Human Rights Watch. “Requiring girls who may not have parental support to plead their case before a judge is intimidating and delays or prevents their getting care.”
The Florida Supreme Court struck struck down a parental-consent law in 1989. However, recent appointments by DeSantis to the Florida Supreme Court has changed the ideological make-up of the court which could be more favorable to a parental consent law.
I would be willing to bet that the 62.5% number includes parents of children, in the age range affected by such legislation, and, the 31.3% number includes those not affected by such legislation, or, apparently don't care about their children.
Please note that the poll did not query parents only. It polled registered voters, many of whom are not parents. These polls are designed to make a point, not to produce a truly scientific outcome.
Stop ALL Government Assistance and Funding to Planned Parenthood.
Majority of Floridians Support Parental Consent for Minors Seeking Abortions? The Majority? Why not ALL PARENTS? I would like to meet and see what type of people that would not WANT to know that their Baby Girl is about to have an Abortion. Having an Abortion is NOT like you're just Popping a ZIT, it a MAJOR Procedure, anything can go wrong and your Baby Girl is DEAD. ANY Parent that does not care if their 13 Year Old Baby Girl is about to have an Abortion are SICK.
"...requiring people...", not "...requiring girls..."?
So does that mean the baby-daddy's parents have to approve the abortion too?