Missouri residents have voted to enshrine abortion rights in their state constitution, making it the first state to undo a total ban through a ballot initiative.
After the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Missouri quickly enacted one of the strictest abortion bans in the country, allowing procedures only in cases of medical emergencies, AP News reported.
The state's abortion-rights advocates fought back by successfully gathering signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to restore reproductive rights.
On November 5, Missouri voters passed a measure amending the state constitution that guarantees the right to make decisions about reproductive healthcare, including access to abortion.
Despite the amendment's success, it does not automatically overturn the state's total abortion ban as it allows restrictions on abortion after fetal viability.
This victory makes Missouri the first state to reverse a total abortion ban at the ballot box, citing a significant shift in abortion politics.
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