Florida's 2012 ballot is long and painful. Lines at some early voting stations are hours long. But we can't stress enough how important this election is.
For the women and girls of our community and our state, there is more at stake than the White House, more at stake than the Congress, and more at stake than the Supreme Court justices who could be appointed by the next president.
There are 11 constitutional amendments on the ballot. To us, this seems like a blatant attempt to bypass the legislative process. There is a real chance that the Florida Constitution -- the fundamental principles that frame our state's lawmaking -- will be amended to infringe on our rights.
Our recommendation and the recommendation of many respected organizations, including the League of Women Voters of Florida, is to vote NO on all the amendments. Three examples specifically target the rights of women and girls.
- Now that we finally have the right to preventive health care, they want to take it away. Ballot Amendment 1 would allow Florida to opt out of new federal health care requirements. Free access to eight preventive health benefits for women would vanish. These include contraceptives, breast-feeding supplies and screenings of gestational diabetes, sexually transmitted infections and domestic violence, as well as routine check-ups for breast and pelvic exams, Pap tests and prenatal care.
Even if you're tired of the rhetoric, disappointed in your candidate, or just daunted by the length of the line or the ballot, please get to the polls to protect the rights of Florida's women and girls.