Voters in 10 states will decide next month if they will adopt proposed constitutional amendments on abortion. |
There are 11 abortion-related ballot measures in 10 different states this year, most of which seek to protect abortion access until fetal viability, or when the fetus could survive outside the uterus. There are five states with ballot measures that, if passed, would overturn current abortion bans: Nebraska, Florida, Arizona, Missouri and South Dakota. Here is short rundown of those measures and where they stand: -
Nebraska: The state’s general election will be unique since voters there will decide on two abortion-related constitutional amendments. One measure would amend the state constitution to recognize the right to an abortion and the other would codify the current law that bans abortion after the first trimester.
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Florida: Voters will get to decide on whether to codify a right to an abortion in the state’s constitution, overturning the state’s current ban. Currently, abortions are banned after six weeks, a standard that abortion advocates say is particularly harsh since many do not know they are pregnant that early.
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Arizona: Abortion is banned until 15 weeks into a pregnancy in Arizona. Voters will get to decide if they want to adopt a constitutional amendment that would enshrine the right to an abortion until 24 weeks.
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Missouri: Missouri has one of the strictest abortion laws in the country, with the procedure banned unless deemed medically necessary. If the ballot initiative passes, abortion rights will be enshrined in the state constitution.
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South Dakota: Abortion is almost completely banned in South Dakota, and the current ballot initiative would enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution. If passed, the measure would make it illegal for the state to regulate abortion during the first trimester. It would also allow the state to regulate abortions in the second and third trimesters unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother.
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Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Joseph Choi and Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.
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