States shift abortion laws in divergent directions amid votes
In ten American states, voters, in addition to participating in Tuesday's presidential elections, also expressed their views on expanding or maintaining abortion rights. In seven states, they voted "yes," while in three, opponents of abortion prevailed.
In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which had established federal abortion rights up to the point of fetal viability outside the mother's body. As a result of this ruling, individual states were allowed to restrict or ban abortion, which 21 states have taken advantage of.
Texas, Idaho, and North Dakota have implemented almost total bans on abortion, with exceptions generally for rape, incest, or threats to the mother's life.
In some states, organizations advocating to preserve abortion rights have initiated efforts to secure its legality through amendments to state constitutions.
Residents of ten states participated in abortion referendums during the presidential elections. Amendments were passed in Missouri, Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, and Montana. Voters in Nevada also approved the amendment, but they will need to vote on it again in 2026 for it to take effect. Another amendment was passed in New York. It does not contain the word "abortion," but it prohibits discrimination based on "sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy."
13 states ban abortion
The amendments did not pass in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Although most voters in Florida supported the amendment, it did not achieve the 60 percent support required by the state constitution.
Passing the amendments does not automatically repeal restrictive laws. Supporters must appeal to the courts to adjust legal regulations to align with the changes introduced by the amendment.
Currently, 13 states prohibit abortion, with certain exceptions. Four more states prohibit abortion in most cases after about six weeks of pregnancy. Despite the bans introduced over the past two years, the number of abortions in the United States has slightly increased, according to the AP agency.
Source: PAP
