In November, voters in at least 10 states across the United States will have the opportunity to shape the future of abortion access within their respective states. This comes after a widespread effort by organizers to introduce a series of ballot measures focused on either restoring or safeguarding the right to an abortion, as well as some measures aimed at imposing restrictions.
Following the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in the Dobbs case, which overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision and effectively eliminated the national right to an abortion, advocates for abortion rights are hopeful that these ballot measures will empower the public to address issues related to reproductive health access.
The majority of the proposed ballot measures seek to codify the right to an abortion in state constitutions. These initiatives are a response to a wave of restrictive laws that were triggered by the Dobbs ruling, as well as various abortion policies that have been implemented by politicians or state supreme courts in the aftermath of the decision.
While anti-abortion groups have supported a few initiatives aimed at limiting abortion access, similar restrictive measures have faced setbacks in states where votes have been held in recent years.
Ten states - Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota - have already confirmed the inclusion of abortion-related measures on their 2024 ballots.
