Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, most Republican-controlled states have implemented new abortion restrictions, with 14 banning it at every stage of pregnancy. However, voters in 7 states have sided with abortion rights supporters on ballot measures, indicating a divided opinion on the issue. Efforts in South Dakota and Missouri to amend their state constitutions to include the right to abortion under certain circumstances are part of a larger movement to put abortion rights questions to voters in light of the Supreme Court’s decision.
In Florida, a ballot measure to legalize abortion until viability has been approved by the state Supreme Court and will go before voters in the upcoming election. Similarly, in Maryland, voters will be asked whether to enshrine the right to abortion in the state’s constitution. New York lawmakers have agreed to ask voters to bar discrimination on the basis of pregnancy and reproductive healthcare as part of a broader equal protection amendment. These efforts reflect ongoing attempts to protect abortion rights in various states.
In Arizona, a signature drive is underway to add a constitutional right to abortion, with supporters aiming to gather nearly 384,000 valid signatures by July 4. Similarly, in Arkansas, proponents are seeking to present an amendment allowing abortion in certain cases on the November ballot. Abortion rights advocates in Montana have proposed a constitutional amendment to ensure access to abortion before viability, pending collection of over 60,000 signatures by June 21. These states are among those where abortion could potentially be on the ballot in 2024.
Missouri advocates for abortion access are expected to submit signatures for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion until viability, while a group of moderate Republicans have abandoned efforts for an alternate amendment that would have allowed abortion up to 12 weeks. In South Dakota, advocates have submitted signatures for a measure that would loosen restrictions but not go as far as many abortion rights advocates would prefer. The ongoing efforts in these states highlight the complex and contentious nature of the debate surrounding abortion rights in the United States.
