CV NEWS FEED // The Associated Press published an article summarizing the abortion measures on each state ballot for this November’s election.
The article states that Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, South Dakota, Missouri, Florida, Maryland, and New York all have ballot measures pushing for more access to abortion. Montana and Nevada are pending similar ballot measures.
Missouri, which currently protects the unborn at all stages of pregnancy, has a ballot measure that would create a “right to abortion” until the time when the child could survive outside the womb, which is at about 24 weeks. It would allow abortions after that point “if a health care professional determines it’s necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant woman,” AP reported. CatholicVote previously reported on this story.
Arizona, which currently allows abortions before 15 weeks, has a nearly identical ballot measure creating a right to abortion until 24 weeks and after that, if a “health professional” deems it necessary. An Arizona pro-life group is suing over the proposition due to its vague language.
On Aug. 14, however, Arizona’s Supreme Court ruled that the informational packet describing the amendment could refer to the baby as an “unborn human person,” contrary to a previous judge’s ruling, as CV previously covered.
AP reported that Colorado already allows abortion at all stages of pregnancy, but the state’s ballot measure would enshrine the right to abortion in the Constitution and require that Medicaid and other insurance cover abortions.
Florida currently bans abortion after 6 weeks, but its current ballot measure would allow it until “fetal viability.” The measure needs 60% of voters’ support to pass.
Maryland, which already allows abortion until fetal viability, has a ballot aiming to include abortion as a constitutional right.
Nevada’s ballot would enshrine their current abortion laws (until 24 weeks) in the state’s constitution. It would allow abortions after 24 weeks under the excuse of protecting the mother’s health.
South Dakota’s ballot would constitutionally protect all first-trimester abortions, second-trimester abortions “reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman,” and third-trimester abortions for “the health or life of the mother;” which in practice would mean unrestricted abortion.
New York already allows abortion until viability. Its ballot measure would focus on banning discrimination based on “pregnancy outcome,” “reproductive healthcare,” sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and disability.
Montana and Nebraska are pending ballot measures for constitutional amendments allowing abortion until viability. Nebraska, however, has two competing ballot measures, with the other banning abortions after the first trimester.
