After the Supreme Courtroom determination to overturn Roe v. Wade was handed down in 2022, states got the facility to determine transfer ahead with reproductive well being care.
In accordance with an Related Press-NORC poll carried out in June, 70% of Individuals imagine abortion must be authorized in all or most circumstances, although a number of states started passing or implementing pre-Roe abortion bans.
In the course of the 2024 elections, voters in 10 states had the chance to weigh in on abortion rights, by way of amendments that aimed to enshrine protections into their state constitutions. Listed below are the seven states that efficiently voted to guard reproductive freedom, and three that did not.
Arizona – PASSED
In April, Arizona enacted a near-total ban on abortion and dominated that medical doctors may very well be criminalized for offering or aiding within the process. In August, the secretary of state’s workplace introduced that it licensed sufficient signatures to place the Arizona Abortion Entry Act on the poll.
The Arizona Abortion Access Act, or Proposition 139, requested voters to agree that each particular person has a “elementary proper” to obtain an abortion earlier than fetal viability — the purpose at which a fetus can survive exterior of the uterus, sometimes about 24 weeks of being pregnant.
Colorado – PASSED
In Could, the Colorado Proper to Abortion and Well being Insurance coverage Protection Initiative — Amendment 79 — obtained sufficient petition signatures to be positioned on the poll. It aimed to make sure that the best to abortion is added to the state Structure and the usage of public funds for abortion could be allowed.
Abortion is presently authorized in Colorado. Nonetheless, this modification was proposed to stop the federal government from taking the immediately. It additionally sought to override a 1984 measure that prohibits medical insurance from protecting abortion take care of “public staff and other people on public insurance coverage.”
Florida – NOT PASSED
In Could, abortion in Florida was banned after simply six weeks of being pregnant — when fetal cardiac exercise is detected, however earlier than many ladies are conscious of their being pregnant.
The Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion, or Modification 4, proposed enshrining reproductive freedom. It acknowledged that “no regulation shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or limit abortion earlier than viability or when obligatory to guard the affected person’s well being, as decided by the affected person’s healthcare supplier.”
Josh Ritchie for The Washington Publish by way of Getty
Maryland – PASSED
In Maryland, abortion is presently authorized earlier than fetal viability. Nonetheless, this election, voters solid ballots on the Reproductive Freedom referendum. This proposed including a bit within the state structure that ensures reproductive freedom, which incorporates “the power to make and effectuate choices to stop, proceed, or finish one’s personal being pregnant.”
Missouri – PASSED
In 2022, Missouri enacted a “set off” regulation that successfully banned abortion with exceptions just for particular medical emergencies.
Modification 3, the Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom, supplied voters the prospect to guard the best to abortion till fetal viability, along with making different types of reproductive well being care a elementary proper.
Montana – PASSED
In Montana, abortion is presently authorized till fetal viability.
The Right to Abortion Initiative, or CI-128, proposed amending the state structure to “present a proper to make and perform choices about one’s personal being pregnant, together with the best to abortion.” It additionally included language to ban the federal government from denying that proper till fetal viability or when it’s “medically indicated to guard the pregnant affected person’s life or well being.”
Nebraska – NOT PASSED
Abortion is presently banned in Nebraskas after 12 weeks of being pregnant, with exceptions for circumstances of rape, incest or to avoid wasting the lifetime of the mom.
In contrast to different states, Nebraska had two dueling poll measures within the common election. The Nebraska Right to Abortion Initiative sought to enshrine within the state structure the best to an abortion till fetal viability or to avoid wasting the lifetime of the mom.
Moreover, Nebraska voters got a conflicting proposal that might ban abortion within the second and third trimesters, with exceptions for circumstances of rape, incest or medical emergencies.
The proposal to ban abortion prevailed.
John Parra/Getty
Nevada – PASSED
Abortion is presently authorized in Nevada as much as 24 weeks of being pregnant or if the being pregnant might be deadly for the mom.
Query 6, or the Right to Abortion Initiative, requested voters to amend the state structure and supply the best to an abortion till fetal viability or when obligatory to guard the life or well being of the mom.
New York – PASSED
In New York, abortions are presently authorized as much as 24 weeks of being pregnant. Afterwards, the process is just allowed in circumstances the place the being pregnant or the mom’s life is in danger.
Proposition 1, or the New York State Equal Rights Amendment, gave voters the choice to amend the state structure and prohibit discrimination by the federal government primarily based on being pregnant, being pregnant outcomes and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.
South Dakota – NOT PASSED
In South Dakota, abortion is presently banned because of a “set off” regulation that went into impact in June 2022. There are exceptions in circumstances the place the process is critical to avoid wasting the lifetime of the mom.
The South Dakota Freedom Amendment sought to amend the state structure and “restore protections of Roe v. Wade,” permitting the best to abortion earlier than 12 weeks of being pregnant. In the course of the second and third trimesters, the process could be authorized in circumstances the place the mom’s life is in danger.
