Organizers in Arkansas are moving forward with a campaign to amend the state’s abortion restrictions. The group, Arkansans for Limited Government, submitted over 90,704 signatures from registered voters, surpassing the required number. Election officials will now verify the validity of the signatures, which is one of six states where officials are examining abortion-related petitions.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to remove the nationwide right to abortion, there has been a notable shift in abortion legislation across states. Republican-controlled states have implemented new restrictions, with 14 states banning abortion at all stages of pregnancy. In contrast, most Democratic-led states have enacted laws to protect abortion access.
Recent years have seen voters in seven states supporting abortion rights in ballot initiatives. Looking ahead to the 2024 elections, several states have initiatives related to abortion on their ballots, such as Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, South Dakota, Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, Montana, and Nebraska.
For instance, in Arkansas, a proposed amendment aims to allow abortion in various circumstances, like cases of rape, incest, threats to the woman’s health or life, or fetal viability issues. However, the proposal does not align with the stance of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, as it includes a ban on abortion at 20 weeks into pregnancy.
Meanwhile, Missouri’s abortion rights advocates are pushing for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights until viability. In Montana, supporters are advocating for a constitutional amendment that would safeguard the right to abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person.
On the flip side, several states have had unsuccessful attempts to bring anti-abortion measures to the ballots. Efforts in Wisconsin, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Maine, and Minnesota to restrict or ban abortion did not gain momentum, highlighting the differing landscape of abortion legislation across the United States.
