Election officials in Arizona and Missouri have recently confirmed that supporters of abortion rights in their states have successfully collected enough petition signatures to introduce proposed amendments guaranteeing abortion rights in their states’ constitutions. This brings the total number of states with abortion-related ballots set for November to seven. The decision to put the issue to voters follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s withdrawal of the nationwide right to abortion through a ruling in 2022.
Since the Supreme Court ruling, many Republican-controlled states have implemented various abortion restrictions, including 14 states that have enacted bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy. In contrast, most states led by Democrats have established laws or executive orders to safeguard access to abortion.
States that have already had abortion-related questions on the ballot since 2022, such as California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, and Vermont, have all seen voters siding with supporters of abortion rights.
Missouri voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that aims to reverse the state’s near-total abortion ban by guaranteeing the right to abortion. Meanwhile, voters in Arizona will determine whether to amend the state constitution to include the right to abortion up to approximately 24 weeks into pregnancy. In Colorado, a measure has made the ballot that would enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution and require coverage by Medicaid and private health insurers.
Florida, Maryland, Nevada, South Dakota, and New York also have ballot measures regarding abortion rights. These states are addressing various aspects related to abortion, including viability limits, protection of access to abortion, and regulations on abortion decisions.
In the upcoming 2024 elections, abortion-related measures might also be presented to voters in Montana and Nebraska. Efforts are underway in both states to propose constitutional amendments that would impact abortion rights, with conflicting viewpoints aiming to secure ballot access for their respective measures. These initiatives seek to address the right to abortion until viability, restrictions on abortion timing, and exceptions under specific circumstances.
