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In a significant development for abortion rights in the United States, voters in seven states approved ballot initiatives to protect or expand abortion rights, while three states rejected similar measures. The states where the measures passed include Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, and New York. However, voters in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota rejected proposed amendments that would have protected abortion rights.
The successful measures will effectively protect abortion rights until fetal viability and undo existing abortion laws. In Missouri, the amendment will allow lawmakers to restrict abortions only past the point of a fetus’ viability, usually considered after 21 weeks. However, the ban and other restrictive laws are not automatically repealed. Advocates now have to ask courts to overturn laws to square with the new amendment.
In contrast, voters in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota rejected similar constitutional amendments, leaving bans in place. These are the first pro-abortion-rights ballot measures to fail since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
NBC News reports that in Florida, the measure needed the support of 60% of voters to pass rather than a simple majority.