Amid expectations that the Florida Supreme Court will decide on Monday whether to include abortion protections on the ballot in November, a map shows the states with the issue going to polls.
Former President Donald Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden are expected to face off in November after having won a series of primaries to become their party's presumptive presidential nominees. With the 2024 presidential election fast approaching, abortion has been a key issue for both the Republican and Democratic campaigns.
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, many Republican-controlled states have put abortion restrictions into effect, with 14 states banning the medical practice at every stage of pregnancy. Most Democratic states have laws or executive orders in place to protect access. Voters in California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio and Vermont have taken the side of abortion rights supporters on similar ballot measures.
While there are only two states, Maryland and New York, confirmed to have a measure that relates to reproductive rights on the November ballot, there are advocates in as many as 14 states that hope to get measures related to abortion access and reproductive rights on the November ballot.
A map created by Newsweek shows the states that could have abortion on the November ballot.
In Maryland, voters will decide on an act that would lay down the right to get an abortion in the Maryland Constitution.
However, in New York, voters will see the Equal Rights Amendment constitutional amendment on the ballot. According to the bill's text, it would prohibit discrimination on the basis of various characteristics, including "reproductive health care and autonomy."
Meanwhile, in Arizona, advocates are raising support for the Arizona Abortion Access Act ballot initiative, which would amend the state's constitution to prohibit the state from legislating against abortion up until fetal viability.
Arkansas is another state in which groups are collecting signatures to get the Arkansas Abortion Amendment on the ballot. The move would amend the state constitution to prohibit the government from banning abortion further than 18 weeks and includes exceptions for rape, incest, and the mother's health. While abortion is currently fully banned in Arkansas, with few exceptions, this amendment could feature on the November ballot.
Although abortion in Colorado is not restricted, there is a push for state Medicaid coverage for abortion as it is usually prohibited. There are initiatives currently gathering signatures that could see more attention.
In Missouri, while abortion is currently banned, with a few exceptions, the Right to Reproductive Freedom ballot initiative would help protect the right to reproductive freedom relating to reproductive health care, according to the petition's text.
In Montana, which allows abortion until fetal viability, a proposed ballot initiative would affirm the state's constitution, according to the group Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights.
The Florida Supreme Court is expected to rule Monday on whether to have the Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion on the November ballot. This would amend the state's constitution to prohibit the government from legislating about abortion "before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health," according to the initiative.
In Nebraska, abortion is currently banned after 12 weeks, but the Protect the Right to Abortion initiative by the Protect Our Rights coalition hopes to amend the state constitution to allow abortion up until fetal viability
In Nevada, abortion is currently banned after 24 weeks. The Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom Political Action Committee is currently collecting signatures to put an initial vote to add a section that includes the "fundamental right to reproductive freedom" into the state's constitution. If the initiative makes the ballot and passes in 2024, it would still need to pass another vote in 2026 to amend the state's constitution.
However, in South Dakota, which almost fully bans abortion, a proposed constitutional amendment would guarantee abortion access. A ban would be allowed at the beginning of the third trimester under the proposed amendment, although it would need exceptions if the mother's health or life is in danger.
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Natalie Venegas is a Weekend Reporter at Newsweek based in New York. Her focus is reporting on education, social justice ... Read more
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