Abortion rights advocates win in four states and there’s a clear way to overturn Missouri’s ban, but lose in Florida

WASHINGTON (AP) — Voters in Missouri cleared the way to overturn one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bans in one of four victories Tuesday for abortion rights advocates, while Florida rejected a similar constitutional amendment and left in place a law law that bans most abortions after elections. first six weeks of pregnancy.

Abortion rights amendments have also passed in Colorado and Maryland. Another banning discrimination based on “pregnancy results” made the rounds in New York.

The results were still pending five other states with abortion measures on the ballot.

The results from Missouri and Florida represent firsts in the abortion landscape, which underwent a seismic shift in 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a ruling that ended a nationwide right to abortion and paved the way for it to take effect of banned in most countries. Republican-controlled states.

Missouri is positioned to be the first state where a vote will overturn a ban already in effect. Currently, abortion is prohibited at all stages of pregnancy, except in cases where a medical emergency endangers the woman’s life. Under the amendment, lawmakers would be able to limit abortions beyond the point of fetal viability — usually after 21 weeks, although there is no precisely defined time frame.

But the ban and other restrictive laws are not automatically repealed. Advocates must now ask the courts to overturn laws that comply with the new amendment.

“Today, Missourians made history and sent a clear message: decisions surrounding pregnancy, including abortion, contraception and miscarriage care, are personal and private and should be left to patients and their families, not politicians,” said Rachel Sweet, Campaign Manager of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, a statement said.

About half of Missouri voters said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 2,200 voters in the state. But only about 1 in 10 said abortion should be illegal in all cases; almost 4 in 10 people believe abortion should be illegal in most cases.

Florida is the first state since Roe was overturned where abortion opponents prevailed in a ballot measure. Most voters supported the measure in Florida, but it fell short of the 60% required to pass constitutional amendments in the state. Most states require a simple majority.

The result was a political victory for Governor Ron DeSantisa Republican with a national profile, who had sent GOP sovereign wealth funds to the cause. His government has also joined a campaign against the measure. question researchers people who signed petitions to add it to the ballot and threats to TV stations which aired a commercial in support of it.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, said in a statement that the outcome is “a momentous victory for life in Florida and for our entire country,” and praised DeSantis for leading the charge against the measure.

The defeat causes a permanent change in the situation Southern abortion landscape that started when the state’s six-week ban went into effect in May. That removed Florida as an abortion destination for many women from nearby states with deeper bans and also led to many more out-of-state women traveling to obtain abortions. The closest states with looser restrictions are North Carolina and Virginia — hundreds of miles away.

“The reality is that because of the Florida Constitution, a minority of Florida voters have decided that Amendment 4 will not pass,” said Lauren Brenzel, campaign manager for the Yes on 4 Campaign, as she wiped away tears. “The reality is that a majority of Floridians just voted to end Florida’s abortion ban.”

In Maryland, the abortion rights amendment is a legal change that will make no immediate difference to abortion access in a state that already allows it.

The Colorado measure exceeded the 55% of support needed to pass. In addition to enshrining access, it also reverses a previous amendment banning the use of state and local government funding for abortion, opening the possibility of state insurance for Medicaid and government employees to cover care.

A New York equal rights law has also been passed that the abortion rights group says will strengthen abortion rights. It does not contain the word “abortion” but rather prohibits discrimination based on “pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health care and autonomy.” Sasha Ahuja, campaign director for New Yorkers for Equal Rights, called the outcome “a monumental victory for all New Yorkers” and a vote against opponents who she said used misleading parental rights and anti-trans messaging to thwart the measure.

The result in Florida ends a winning streak for abortion rights advocates

Until Tuesday, advocate for abortion rights had prevailed on all seven measures that have appeared on statewide ballots since the fall of Roe.

The campaigns for abortion rights are having a major impact fundraising benefit this year. Their opponents’ efforts are aimed at portraying the amendments as too extreme rather than abortion as immoral.

Currently, 13 states enforce bans at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions. Four additional abortions in most cases after about six weeks of pregnancy – before women often realize they are pregnant. Despite the bans, the number of monthly abortions in the US has increased slightly due to the increasing use of abortion pills and organized efforts to help women travel for abortions. Yet advocates say the bans are reduced accessespecially for lower-income and minority residents of states with bans.

The issue resonates with voters. About a quarter said abortion policy was the single most important factor in their voting outcome, according to AP VoteCast, a comprehensive survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide. Nearly half said this was an important factor, but not the most important. Just over 1 in 10 said it was a minor factor.

The outcomes of ballot initiatives aimed at overturning strict abortion bans in Florida and Missouri were very important to a majority of voters in the states. More than half of Florida voters called the amendment’s outcome very important, while about 6 in 10 Missouri voters said the same, the survey found.

Some measures are intended to anchor current legislation, others to reverse bans

Although the voting questions have a similar purpose, they each have their own political circumstances.

Nebraska has competing ballot measures. Abortion would be allowed further into the pregnancy. The other would enshrine in the constitution the state’s current law, which bans most abortions after 12 weeks — but allow further restrictions.

In South Dakota, the measure would allow for a number of rules regarding a woman’s health after twelve weeks. Because of that wrinkle, most national abortion rights groups do not support it.

Arizona, a presidential election battleground, bans abortion after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.

The ballot measure gained momentum there after a state Supreme Court ruling in April ruled that the state could enforce a strict 1864 abortion ban. Some Republican lawmakers joined Democrats to repeal the law before it could be enforced.

Measures to preserve access are also on the agenda in Montana, where a U.S. Senate race could help determine control of the chamber, and in Nevada, a presidential election battleground.

In Nevada, where control of state government is divided, the ballot measure would have to be passed this year and again in 2026 to take effect.

— By GEOFF MULVIHILL and CHRISTINE FERNANDO Associated Press. Associated Press reporters Hannah Fingerhut and Amanda Seitz contributed to this article.