Abortion rights got 57% support in Florida. So why did it fail? Because big business and politicians have gamed the whole amendment process, writes columnist Scott Maxwell.

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.

A closely watched proposal to restore abortion rights in Florida appears to have fallen short, in a significant blow to efforts to expand local protections for the procedure.The ballot initiative would have allowed abortion until the point of foetal viability or about 24 weeks,

Here's a recap of each amendment that was on Floridian ballots, whether they passed or failed and what weed and abortion laws are like in Florida.

Florida’s voters were asked whether the state’s constitution should say that “no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

Supporters of Amendment 4 say the result shows voters don’t want a six-week abortion ban. But Republican lawmakers, reelected and retaining a supermajority in Tallahassee, disagree.