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.

The state previously had a 15-week ban, but the six-week ban took effect in May. Florida’s ban has effectively shut off abortion access in the South, where neighboring states already enforce near-total abortion bans or severe restrictions. Abortion rights advocates were hoping to change that, and spent nearly $100 million on the effort.