- At least 8 states, and possibly 3 more, will be voting on abortion access this November.
- Arizona and Missouri are the latest states to add abortion measures to their ballots this year.
With access to abortion no longer guaranteed under Roe v. Wade, more and more states are working to enshrine abortion rights in their constitutions.
This week, Arizona and Missouri joined a growing list of states — Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota —to add an abortion measure to the November ballot.
Arizona's Secretary of State confirmed on Monday that an abortion access initiative had gathered enough signatures to appear on the ballot this year. The initiative, which would add the right to an abortion to the state's constitution if passed, collected more than 570,000 certified signatures — the highest number in the state's history and 50% more than what was needed to get the measure on the ballot.
Arizona is a key swing state critical to both the 2024 presidential election and the battle for Senate control. And Democrats are hoping that the abortion measure will help them flip two House seats in the state and wrest back some control of the Republican-led House, The New York Times reported.
Along with Arizona, Nevada is the only other crucial battleground state voting on abortion access this year, which Democrats hope will sway voters in their favor. However, Florida — a perennial swing state that recently has trended Republican — will also have an abortion ballot initiative.
Following Arizona, on Tuesday, Missouri's Secretary of State announced that an abortion initiative in the state had collected enough signatures to make it to the November ballot. The measure would add an amendment to the constitution guaranteeing the right to an abortion before fetal viability or to protect the health of the mother.
What makes Missouri stand out from other states voting on abortion measures this election is that Missouri currently has a near-total ban on the procedure, which the initiative would reverse. South Dakota also has a near-total ban, which its initiative would also reverse.
Status of state abortion measures this year
Eight states have abortion measures confirmed for their November ballot, two additional states have submitted signatures for approval, and in one state, proponents of an abortion measure are appealing the Secretary of State's disqualification of the measure, according to a tracker compiled by health policy nonprofit KFF.
Here's a summary of each:
Arizona:
- On the November ballot.
- Measure would protect abortion up to fetal viability and in cases where the pregnant person's health is in danger.
- Current state law allows abortion up to 15 weeks after the first day of the pregnant person's last menstrual period (LMP).
Arkansas:
- Supporters of an abortion measure are appealing the Secretary of State's disqualification of the measure.
- If it makes it to the ballot and is passed, it would protect abortions up to 20 weeks LMP and in cases of rape, incest, and the health of the fetus or mother.
- Current state law bans nearly all abortions.
Colorado:
- On the November ballot.
- Measure would recognize the right to an abortion and repeal a constitutional amendment that had banned the state from providing funds for abortions.
- Current state law puts no gestational limit on abortions.
Florida:
- On the November ballot.
- Measure would protect abortion up to fetal viability and in cases where the pregnant person's health is in danger.
- Current state law allows abortions up to 6 weeks LMP.
Maryland:
- On the November ballot.
- Measure would establish a right to "reproductive freedom," including the ability to end one's pregnancy.
- Current state law allows abortion up to fetal viability.
Missouri:
- On the November ballot.
- Measure would protect abortion up to fetal viability and in cases where the pregnant person's health is in danger.
- Current state law bans nearly all abortions.
Montana:
- Signatures on a ballot measure have been submitted for approval.
- Measure would protect abortion up to fetal viability.
- Current state law puts no gestational limit on abortions.
Nebraska:
- Signatures on two ballot measures have been submitted for approval.
- First measure would protect abortion up to fetal viability, and in cases where the pregnant person's health is in danger. Second measure would ban abortion during the second and third trimesters except in cases of rape, incest, and medical emergency.
- Current state law allows abortions up to 12 weeks LMP.
Nevada:
- On the November ballot.
- Measure would protect abortion up to fetal viability, and in cases where the pregnant person's health is in danger.
- Current state law allows abortion up to 24 weeks LMP.
New York:
- On the November ballot.
- Measure would amend the state constitution's equal rights amendment to prevent discrimination against pregnant people and protect reproductive freedom — protections that proponents argue would prohibit the state legislature from restricting abortions.
- Current state law allows abortions up to fetal viability.
South Dakota:
- On the November ballot.
- Measure would protect abortion up to the end of the second trimester, except in cases where the pregnant person's health is in danger.
- Current state law bans nearly all abortions.
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, every state that has put abortion access decisions before voters — 7 total — has voted in favor of abortion rights, according to The New York Times.