Categories: Health

The Majority Of States’ Abortion Rights Amendments Won

Nearly everywhere abortion was on the ballot, Americans voted to protect it.

Of the 10 states where abortion rights were on the ballot on Tuesday, seven voted to expand or enshrine abortion rights. The results are emblematic of what pro-choice advocates have been saying for decades: Abortion rights are widely popular.

In the biggest win of the night, deep-red Missouri decided to codify abortion protections into the state constitution. The measure will repeal the state’s near-total abortion ban and restore access until around 24 weeks of pregnancy — marking the first time since Roe v. Wade fell that voters have overturned an abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.

Voters in Maryland and Colorado supported amendments to enshrine abortion access throughout pregnancy — a progressive win in states that have become safe havens for abortion care later in pregnancy. Notably, Colorado’s amendment also repeals a 1984 state law that barred the use of public funds for abortion care.

Arizona, Montana and Nevada all voted to pass amendments that codify abortion through fetal viability, or around 24 weeks of pregnancy, into the state constitution.

New Yorkers passed a historic amendment to expand the state’s equal rights amendment to include pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. The amendment also includes protections against discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

People at an election night watch party react after an abortion rights amendment in Missouri passed.

Three states — Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota — voted against abortion rights. A slim majority of Nebraska voters supported an anti-abortion amendment to codify the state’s current 12-week abortion ban, beating out the state’s competing abortion rights measure.

Florida’s outcome was particularly heartbreaking for pro-choice groups because a majority of Floridians (57%) supported the amendment, voting to restore abortion access until fetal viability. But because voters didn’t meet the state’s 60% threshold for amending the state constitution, Amendment 4 did not pass.

“The reality is because of Florida’s constitution a minority ― a minority ― a minority of Florida voters have decided that Amendment 4 will not be adopted,” Lauren Brenzel, director of the Yes On 4 campaign, said during her Tuesday night concession speech.

“Republicans, Democrats and Independents do not support these extreme bans on abortion. They are tired of women dying because of abortion bans,” she continued. “…A bipartisan group of voters today sent a clear message to the Florida legislature.”

Despite 7 out of 10 states voting to protect abortion care, voters still supported a presidential candidate who will very likely decimate women’s reproductive health care. Donald Trump may have shied away from his anti-abortion record on the campaign trail, but now that he’s headed to the White House, those guardrails will likely fall by the wayside.

Trump has waffled on a national abortion ban, but many of his allies laid out a blueprint for how to ban abortion nationwide in Project 2025.

A federal abortion ban would trump state rights, including the abortion rights measures that seven states passed last night, according to Mary Ziegler, an expert in reproductive health law at the University of California, Davis, School of Law. The Comstock Act, an archaic law that bans the mailing of abortion pills, would also likely supersede state rights if Trump enforces it as a national abortion ban.

Although the GOP won control of the Senate, control of the House — and with it, Trump’s ability to pass a national abortion ban through Congress — is still up in the air.

Democracy In The Balance

Don’t let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America’s future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down.

Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can’t do it without you.

You’ve supported HuffPost before, and we’ll be honest — we could use your help again. We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can’t do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

You’ve supported HuffPost before, and we’ll be honest — we could use your help again. We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can’t do it without you.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

There will be litigation in every state that passed an abortion rights amendment on Tuesday night. Opponents of the measures will likely bring legal challenges against the successful initiatives and fight to keep other abortion regulations in place, like waiting periods and mandatory counseling.

News Today

Recent Posts

Kareena Kapoor’s Next Untitled Film With Meghna Gulzar Gets Prithviraj Sukumaran On Board

Kareena Kapoor is working with Raazi director Meghna Gulzar for her next film. The project,…

2 weeks ago

Purdue basketball freshman Daniel Jacobsen injured vs Northern Kentucky

2024-11-09 15:00:03 WEST LAFAYETTE -- Daniel Jacobsen's second game in Purdue basketball's starting lineup lasted…

2 weeks ago

Rashida Jones honors dad Quincy Jones with heartfelt tribute: ‘He was love’

2024-11-09 14:50:03 Rashida Jones is remembering her late father, famed music producer Quincy Jones, in…

2 weeks ago

Nosferatu Screening at Apollo Theatre Shows Student Interest in Experimental Cinema – The Oberlin Review

2024-11-09 14:40:03 A silent German expressionist film about vampires accompanied by Radiohead’s music — what…

2 weeks ago

What Are Adaptogens? Find Out How These 3 Herbs May Help You Tackle Stress Head-On

Let's face it - life can be downright stressful! With everything moving at breakneck speed,…

2 weeks ago

The new Mac Mini takes a small step towards upgradeable storage

Apple’s redesigned Mac Mini M4 has ditched the previous M2 machine’s SSD that was soldered…

2 weeks ago