Voters in seven US states have so far approved measures to protect or expand abortion rights, but a bid to restore protections in Florida has fallen short.
Americans in 10 states had the opportunity to vote on whether to protect the right to abortion in their state constitutions, with all results now declared.
In a major victory, Missouri, which is expected to be won by Trump, voted to amend its state constitution to protect abortion rights. The state has become the first since the fall of Roe v Wade to overturn its near-total abortion ban.
Blue states Colorado, New York, and Maryland also all passed measures to amend their state constitutions to enshrine abortion rights.
However, in Florida, an effort to roll back a six-week ban fell short, as did other attempts to expand protections in Nebraska and South Dakota. The ballot initiative in Florida would have allowed abortion until the point of fetal viability or about 24 weeks, but did not achieve the 60 per cent of support needed to pass.
The US Supreme Court’s 2022 overturning of Roe v Wade – enshrining the national right to abortion – prompted many states to implement bans or severe restrictions on the practice, drastically limiting access for millions of American women.
Since 2022, seven states had seen a popular vote on abortion rights prior to this year. Every measure aimed at protecting access passed, while all measures to restrict it failed, including in reliably conservative states such as Kansas.
The results of Tuesday’s abortion votes will not necessarily spell the end of decision-making about the issue in these states. States that voted to overturn bans will see litigation or legislation before the bans are repealed. It was hoped this would help mobilise Democrat voters for Kamala Harris in the presidential election. However, polls suggest many voters have split their votes by supporting both abortion rights and Donald Trump, who is on course for victory.
Here is a state-by-state breakdown of the abortion ballot initiatives so far.
Arizona
Result: Passed
What’s on the ballot: More than 60 per cent of voters in Arizona, a key battleground state in the presidential election, have backed an amendment to protect the right to abortion until the point of viability, or about 24 weeks. Abortion is banned in the state after 15 weeks under current laws.
Colorado
Result: Passed
What’s on the ballot: A measure to amend the state constitution to block the state government from denying, impeding or discriminating against individuals’ “right to abortion”. The amendment also repealed a provision in the state constitution that bans public funding for abortions. There is currently no gestational limit on the right to abortion in the state.
Florida
Result: Failed
What’s on the ballot: An amendment on the Florida ballot proposed limiting government interference with abortion before viability or when needed for the patient's health. The measure needed 60 per cent of the vote to pass.
Maryland
Result: Passed
What’s on the ballot: An amendment to guarantee the right to abortion access by adding language to the Constitution protecting "the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end one's own pregnancy”. There is currently no gestational limit on the right to abortion in the state.
Missouri
Result: Passed
What’s on the ballot: An amendment to remove Missouri’s near-total abortion ban, and establish in the state’s constitution the “fundamental right to reproductive freedom”, including abortion care until fetal viability.
Montana
Result: Passed
What’s on the ballot: An amendment to change the state’s constitution to establish a right for individuals to access abortion up until fetal viability, and prohibit the government form punishing doctors or those who undergo an abortion. Abortion in Montana is currently legal.
Nebraska
Nebraska was the only state with two abortion questions on the ballot.
What’s on the ballot: The first proposition was to enshrine the right to abortion until fetal viability in the state constitution.
Result: Failed
What’s on the ballot: The second proposition was to enshrine the current 12-week ban.
Result: Passed
Nevada
Result: Passed
What’s on the ballot: An amendment to protect the right to abortion until viability, or after viability in cases where the patient’s health or life may be threatened. The proposition will not automatically become law in Nevada, but will be placed on a general election ballot in 2026.
New York
Result: Passed
What’s on the ballot: An amendment to add language to the state constitution providing that individuals cannot be denied rights on the basis of their “ethnicity, national origin, age, disability” or “sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy”. Abortion is currently protected in New York until fetal viability.
South Dakota
Result: Failed
What’s on the ballot: An amendment to protect the right to abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy in South Dakota. In the second trimester, regulations of abortion decisions would be allowed. In the third trimester, abortion would be regulated or prohibited except when medically necessary to save the life of the pregnant person. This proposition is the least far-reaching of all the abortion ballot initiatives.
