There are approaching deadlines in five states leading up to July 5. Advocates are striving to gather enough signatures from voters to include abortion-related questions on the ballots in the November elections.
In four states, measures that aim to protect the right to abortion in state constitutions are already set to appear on the ballot. In two other states, officials are currently verifying the validity of the petitions submitted. Additionally, New York’s attorney general is working to reinstate a question after it was removed by a court.
Following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on abortion on June 13, there is ongoing concern and advocacy from abortion rights supporters. This ruling denied an attempt to revoke federal approval for mifepristone, a drug used for medication abortions. However, it’s noted that similar lawsuits could potentially succeed in the future.
The significance of these upcoming elections is evident as abortion rights continue to be a major issue, influencing both state and federal races.
These measures will have the potential to impact the current trends that have emerged in the past two years since the nationwide right to abortion was removed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Since the 2022 ruling, Republican-led states have implemented new abortion restrictions, with 14 states banning abortion at all stages of pregnancy. Conversely, Democratic-led states have put in place laws or executive orders to safeguard access to abortion.
In the last two years, voters in seven states have supported abortion rights in various ballot measures. Efforts to restrict or ban abortion have not always successfully made it to the ballots, as seen in various states such as Wisconsin, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Maine, and Minnesota.
What’s on the 2024 ballots?
COLORADO
Following the confirmation by Colorado’s top election official in May, a measure to protect abortion rights in the state constitution is set for the fall election. The initiative includes provisions for Medicaid and private health insurers to cover abortion. Supporters gathered over 225,000 signatures, exceeding the required amount and ensuring 55% voter support for amending the state constitution.
A separate measure aiming to ban abortion did not garner enough signatures from supporters. Abortion is legal in Colorado at all stages of pregnancy.
FLORIDA
Despite legal challenges, a state Supreme Court ruling in April allowed a ballot measure to legalize abortion until fetal viability. Advocates collected over a million signatures to add a state constitutional amendment legalizing abortion until viability to the ballot. The measure requires 60% voter approval to take effect. Abortion is currently restricted in Florida after the first six weeks of pregnancy.
MARYLAND
Maryland voters will vote on enshrining the right to abortion in the state constitution this year. The state already protects abortion rights under state law, and abortion is allowed in Maryland until viability.
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota voters will decide on a measure in the fall that would ban restrictions on abortion in the first trimester, regulate the decision in the second trimester, and allow for exceptions in the third trimester. Signatures supporting the initiative have been validated, exceeding the required amount.
For more details on other states and potential ballot measures in 2024, continue reading the article.
