WASHINGTON — Voters in Maryland have officially given their approval to a ballot measure that will establish the right to abortion in the state’s constitution. This decision came during a voting event on Tuesday. The move follows a significant political backdrop, as Maryland legislators had previously decided to place the amendment on the ballot after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last year.

While Maryland’s current laws already safeguard the right to abortion, this constitutional amendment aims to fortify those protections, making it more challenging to alter the existing laws in the future. In 1991, Maryland passed legislation designed to uphold abortion rights in anticipation that the Supreme Court might permit more restrictive regulations on the procedure. The announcement regarding the amendment’s approval was made at 9:28 p.m. EST.

This legislative action reflects a wider commitment within the state to protect reproductive rights amidst a changing political landscape surrounding the issue of abortion. It reinforces the state’s position even as debates continue nationally about the protection and regulation of abortion rights.