Ten states recently held votes on abortion-related measures, with abortion advocates claiming victories in seven of them. The states that went to the polls on this issue include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Nevada, and South Dakota. The majority of the ballot measures aimed to amend efforts passed in Republican-led states following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
In Missouri, voters cleared the way to undo the state's near-total ban on abortion, one of the strictest restrictions in the nation. An amendment was passed that would allow lawmakers to restrict abortions past the point of a fetus' viability, typically considered after 21 weeks.
Abortion rights amendments also succeeded in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, and Montana. Montana voted to amend its state constitution to explicitly provide a right to make decisions about one's pregnancy, including the right to abortion.
Nevada voters approved an amendment as well, but it will need to be passed again in 2026 for it to take effect. In New York, a measure banning discrimination based on 'pregnancy outcomes' was successful. While not explicitly mentioning abortion, the measure prohibits discrimination related to pregnancy outcomes, reproductive healthcare, and autonomy.
Arizona voters were asked to amend the state constitution to allow abortions up to the 24-week mark. The proposed amendment establishes a 'fundamental right' to abortion before fetal viability, defined as when a fetus has a 'significant likelihood' of surviving outside the uterus. This amendment would replace the current law that bans abortion after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.
