Vermont lawmakers send constitutional amendment guaranteeing right to abortion to voters

Vermont voters will weigh in on a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to abortion after the state House overwhelmingly approved the measure.

The state’s House of Representatives voted 107 to 41 on Tuesday in favor of the Reproductive Liberty Amendment, also known as Proposition 5, which would add a statute to the Vermont Constitution that assures access to abortion, contraceptives and other related care for all individuals in the Green Mountain State, according to VTDigger.

Voters are reportedly set to vote on the measure in November.

Supporters of the amendment have said adding to the Vermont Constitution is a critical move as state legislatures throughout the nation are considering bills that would hamper abortion access, according to VTDigger.

It also comes as Americans wait for the Supreme Court to make a key ruling in a case involving a Mississippi law that bans virtually all abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Some fear that the decision, which The Washington Post said is expected to come this summer, may affect the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade.

Opponents of the amendment, however, are arguing that the matter at hand should be dealt with through legislation and not a permanent addition to the Vermont Constitution, the newspaper reported.

The debate over abortion in the U.S. dominated headlines in September after a Texas law took effect that bans virtually all abortions after a heartbeat is detected, which can occur as early as six weeks into pregnancy.

The law also allows most private citizens to sue individuals who perform or aid others in getting an abortion, arguing that they are in violation of the law. If successful, litigants can receive at least $10,000.