Which states have abortion-related ballot measures after Ohio Issue 1 vote?
Ohio Rejects Measure to Make Constitutional Amendments More Difficult
Ohio voters have spoken out against a Republican-backed measure aimed at increasing the requirements for amending the state’s constitution. Known as Issue 1, this rejected measure would have raised the threshold for passing amendments from 50% to 60%. Democrats argue that this was an attempt by Republicans to hinder an upcoming abortion amendment set to be on the ballot in November.
Abortion Measures on the Horizon in Multiple States
While Ohio stands as the only state with an abortion measure on the ballot this year, several other states are looking to address abortion-related questions in 2024.
South Dakota
In South Dakota, there is currently a complete ban on abortion, except in cases where the mother’s life is in danger. Dakotans for Health, the organizers behind a potential 2024 ballot measure, are actively collecting signatures for an amendment that would allow women to choose abortion during the first trimester. To secure a spot on the 2024 ballot, the initiative must gather verified signatures equivalent to 10% of the turnout in the previous gubernatorial election, with the exact number to be determined on November 5.
Missouri
In Missouri, abortion is prohibited except in cases of medical emergencies, with the state’s trigger law coming into effect shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. A proposed ballot initiative, supported by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, aims to safeguard abortion rights and access to birth control. To make it onto the ballot next fall, the measure requires over 100,000 signatures from voters. Despite facing multiple lawsuits, the initiative continues to move forward, as the Missouri Supreme Court ruled against the state attorney general’s attempts to halt it.
Florida
Florida has implemented one of the strictest abortion measures in the nation, with Governor Ron DeSantis signing a bill in April that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Floridians Protecting Freedom, supported by Planned Parenthood, has launched a campaign to combat government interference in abortion rights. As of August, they have collected nearly half a million petitions, but they need 891,523 certified signatures to secure a spot on the 2024 ballot. An opposing measure, called the Human Life Protection Amendment, led by the anti-abortion group Protect Human Life Florida, poses a potential challenge.
Arizona
Currently, abortion in Arizona is only legal up to 15 weeks gestation, with the state’s appeals court upholding a near-total abortion ban last year. In response to Ohio’s rejection of Issue 1, the Arizona Abortion Access Act was filed, seeking to legalize abortion and prevent penalties for those assisting in the process. Advocacy organizations like the ACLU of Arizona and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona are backing this proposal, which must gather at least 383,923 verified signatures from voters by July 2024.
Other states, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Oklahoma, are also in the early stages of pursuing measures to be placed on the ballot next year.
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