Plaintiffs have alleged election fraud in the gathering of signatures for an abortion-related citizen initiative to amend the Florida Constitution known as Amendment 4. The initiative is in legal jeopardy just weeks before the Nov. 5 election, as evidence of misconduct has surfaced. Four state residents filed a civil lawsuit requesting the removal of Amendment 4 from the November ballot due to alleged fraud in signature collection.
The proposed Amendment 4 seeks to protect the right to abortion in Florida by prohibiting laws that restrict abortion before viability or when necessary for the patient’s health. A 60 percent majority vote is required for the amendment to pass and make abortion a constitutional right in the state.
An interim report by the Florida Office of Election Crimes and Security revealed that the signatures gathered for Amendment 4 may have included a significant number of fraudulent signatures. The investigation projected that 16.4 percent of verified signatures were potentially fraudulent.
The plaintiffs argue that if the invalid signature rate occurred statewide, the petition drive would have fallen short by a substantial number of signatures. They have requested the Orange County Circuit Court to prevent state and county election officials from counting the votes on Amendment 4 in the General Election.
The lawsuit also implicates the pro-abortion group Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF) for hiring alleged fraudsters to circulate petitions and engage in identity theft to gather signatures. Evidence collected by investigators found forged signatures, including those of deceased voters, on the petitions.
FPF campaign director Lauren Brenzel criticized the lawsuit as anti-democratic and an attempt to undermine Floridians’ right to vote on Amendment 4. The group maintains that the amendment aims to protect personal healthcare decisions from political interference.
PCI Consultants, involved in the signature-gathering process, did not respond to requests for comment. Pro-life legal group Liberty Counsel emphasized the importance of examining the evidence of fraud to ensure the integrity of the constitutional amendment process.
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