In November, Missouri voters will have the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment that would guarantee a right to abortion, potentially reversing the state's near-total ban on the procedure. The initiative petition, which received more than enough signatures from registered voters, has been certified by the secretary of state's office to appear on the general election ballot. If approved by a majority of voters, the amendment will be enshrined in the state constitution.
Missouri is among at least six states that will be voting on abortion rights during the upcoming presidential election. Other states with similar measures on the ballot include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, and South Dakota. Additionally, a New York ballot measure aims to prevent discrimination based on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare.
Supporters of the initiative in Missouri expressed confidence in its inclusion on the ballot after submitting more than double the required number of signatures. In addition to the abortion rights amendment, voters will also decide on initiatives related to raising the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour and legalizing sports betting.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn a nationwide right to abortion in 2022, states have been engaged in a legislative battle over abortion rights. Most Republican-controlled states have implemented new abortion restrictions, while Democratic-led states have focused on protecting abortion access.
Since the court's ruling, seven states have already decided on ballot measures related to abortion rights, with all of them favoring abortion rights supporters. Missouri's current law prohibits abortion except in cases of medical emergency, making it a felony to perform or induce an abortion under most circumstances.
The proposed Missouri ballot measure would establish a right to abortion until a fetus could likely survive outside the womb without extraordinary medical intervention. It would also allow abortions after fetal viability if deemed necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant woman.
Despite the restrictive laws in Missouri, residents have sought abortions out of state or in neighboring states like Illinois and Kansas. The number of states considering abortion-related ballot measures may increase, with Montana and Nebraska still evaluating proposed initiatives for the upcoming election.
