PolitiFact rated a Yes on 4 ad as “mostly false” for inaccurately claiming Florida’s six-week abortion ban has “no real exceptions,” noting that while procedural hurdles exist, the law does allow exceptions for rape and health risks under certain conditions.

PolitiFact assessed a television ad this week promoting Amendment 4, rating it as “mostly false” due to concerns over the accuracy of claims made by the group Yes on 4. The ad asserts that Florida’s six-week abortion ban includes “no real exceptions,” even in cases of rape or health risks.

Produced by pro-abortion group Yes on 4 and released earlier this month, the advertisement falsely claims that Florida’s six-week abortion ban lacks meaningful exceptions for cases involving rape or risks to a pregnant woman’s health. However, PolitiFact’s review concluded that this portrayal was misleading. While the fact-checking organization acknowledged that navigating the process to qualify for exceptions involves several steps, it clarified that the law does, in fact, provide exceptions under certain conditions.

“Florida’s abortion ban, enacted on May 1, is one of the strictest in the country. However, it includes exceptions for the pregnant woman’s health, and for cases of rape and incest up to 15 weeks of pregnancy,” PolitiFact stated in its review.

Amendment 4, which will appear on the November ballot, seeks to enshrine abortion rights in Florida’s constitution, effectively overriding the state’s existing legislation. Florida’s six-week abortion ban, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023, permits exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and serious health risks to the pregnant woman. Specifically, abortions in cases of rape and incest are allowed up to 15 weeks of pregnancy but require supporting documentation, such as a police report. Health-related exceptions necessitate certification from two physicians verifying that the woman’s life or health is at serious risk.

Yes on 4 argues that these procedural hurdles—such as the need for documentation and physician approval—render the exceptions impractical for many women, thereby justifying their assertion of “no real exceptions.” PolitiFact, however, emphasized that while these barriers may pose significant challenges, the legal framework for exceptions does exist, making the ad’s language technically inaccurate.

“The ad’s words omit that the current law allows exceptions for the health and rape, leaving viewers with a misleading impression. We rate the claim Mostly False,” the report states.

A poll released in August indicated 56 percent support among voters on the amendment. Support varied by demographic, with women slightly more likely to favor the amendment (59 percent) compared to men (54 percent). Younger voters aged 18 to 49 are more supportive at 62 percent, while backing among older voters is somewhat lower. Democrats overwhelmingly support the measure (80 percent), compared to 35 percent of Republicans and 59 percent of Independents. Among racial groups, Hispanic voters show the strongest support at 66 percent, followed by 62 percent of Black voters. However, the 23 percent of undecided voters could be pivotal, given the contentious nature of the issue.

Despite a 7 percent increase in support since April, the initiative still fell short of the 60 percent threshold required for passage.