RESULTS: California votes to protect abortion as a constitutional right
- California voted to protect abortion as a constitutional right.
- Proposition 1 would make abortion and contraception access a state constitutional right.
California voted to protect abortion rights, approving a ballot measure that will amend the state's constitution to say that the state cannot take away a person's right to abortion or contraception and will not interfere with reproductive freedoms.
2022 General EmbedsBallot measure details
After the Supreme Court ruled that the right to abortion is no longer federally protected, many states decided to implement abortion bans.
However, blue-leaning states like California took a different route and voted to continue protecting abortion and contraceptive access as a fundamental right. The state legislature put the measure, Proposition 1, on the ballot around the time of the Supreme Court's ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson.
The constitutional amendment will not change much on abortion law in the state, according to the state's legislative analyst's office. State law will still only allow late term-abortions in special cases and require people to have licenses to perform these medical procedures.
The analyst's office also said there will likely be no fiscal impact as a result of this measure being implemented.
Support and opposition
Yes on 1 includes support from Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Teachers Association, Planned Parenthood, and a number of other reproductive rights and justice groups.
Supporters argue that the measure is necessary to add another layer of protection to reproductive healthcare amid fears that federal lawmakers could instate a national abortion ban.
No on 1 is endorsed by the California Republican Party, the California Catholic Conference, and anti-abortion groups across the state.
What experts are saying
Fifty-five percent of likely voters said they would vote for Proposition 30, 40% would vote against it, and 5% said they were unsure, a September statewide survey from the Public Policy Institute of California found.