The principle of majority rule is a cornerstone of democracy, ensuring that changes made will reflect the majority voice of the population. In allowing a majority to decide, the collective voice of the population is respected. The United States was established with this notion and due to it, adjustments in to our country are usually accepted by all. For years, majority rule has made it possible to maintain order and integrity in society for governmental decisions. Ultimately, the absence of majority rule would have a clear detrimental effect on our country.
Amendment 4, also known as “Amendment to Limit Government Interference With Abortion” was recently up for vote for Floridians. This amendment was voted on because of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, leaving the states with the choice to decide on the abortion issue within their respective governments.
This year in Florida, along with presidential candidates on the ballots, amendments one through six were present, including one amendment which dealt with the abortion issues. These amendments gave Floridians the choice to vote on varying topics such as, partisanship in school board elections, the right to fish and hunt, the right to an abortion and more.
“In my opinion, I think all women should have the right to an abortion and it’s wrong to have a total ban. Especially since most of our state’s population thinks the same thing,” junior Trinity Perez said.
Overall, many amendments were able to pass. However, the amendment with the most controversy, was rejected, that being Amendment 4. Florida currently has a ban on any abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy. Voting “no” would have been a vote in favor of that ban and the start of completely banning abortion in the state. On the other hand, a “yes” vote, would have been against that ban and would be a first step in legalizing abortion in the state.
This amendment has been thoroughly criticized due to its vagueness and its lack of solid definition. It is one paragraph long, contrasting from other amendments that can span multiple pages. Therefore, much can be left up to interpretation, yet it is still greatly supported. 57.2% of the Florida population voted “yes”, leaving many confused and enraged on why it did not pass, particularly the majority who voted, but did not see their desired changes in the state government.
“I personally feel that women should have a right to abort and I think the ban is a violation of their rights. I also don’t understand why our state majority voted for no ban, and yet it’s still getting put in place,” junior Caterina Nuonno said.
It is illogical and downright wrong that the majority rule is essentially being ignored, especially since this ignorance is all due to a change made in 2006. Eighteen years ago, an election took place where Floridans voted on a proposition for a constitutional amendment to change the threshold from the standard 50%, to 60%, leaving desastrous consequences for years to come. The fairness of a 2oo6 vote’s ability to continuously refute voters current choices consequently comes into question.
“I think the choice made in 2006 is wrong; I don’t think it’s fair that the majority of our population isn’t going to get what they voted for. The change just seems counter-productive like [the 50% threshold] is what we’ve always done in our country,” junior Serafina Baraloto said.
Regardless of one’s opinions on abortion, the fact that the majority rule, the foundation of our democracy, is being repudiated is unacceptable. Especially since the preposition was ironically passed by 57.78%, not even fulfilling its own requirements.
Ultimately, this amendment creates a ripple of consequences that clearly threatens the integrity of the country’s democratic foundation. This is undeniably seen in this year’s vote on Amendment 4, and how the majority of the population voted for something, and is now receiving the opposite.
This injustice also applied itself in 2018, with restoring the right to vote for felons, while it passed by 64.55%, it narrowly avoided a big loss and a massive change for millions of peoples lives. These consequences will only cease to hurt people when it is overturned and majority rule is rightly reinstated in the state.
“I don’t get it and I think it’s really wrong that the majority of the state voted for something and they’re not going to get it. Honestly, to me, I just feel that the change made in 2006 wasn’t even necessary,” junior Orly Schoolman-Wood said.
Ultimately, this change clearly hinders the democratic process by dismantling the state’s majority rule. It also lacks pure logic, if the majority of a state is in favor of something, why do the opposite?
