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Six states expand abortion protections as Florida ballot fails Seven states expand abortion protections as Florida ballot fails
(about 7 hours later)
Voters in six states have approved measures to protect or expand abortion rights, but a bid to restore protections for the procedure failed in Florida. Seven states in the US have approved measures to protect or expand abortion rights, but bids to restore protections for the procedure failed in Florida, South Dakota and Nebraska.
A variety of questions on abortion access were on the ballot in 10 states during the seismic election, in which the issue was a galvanising force for many voters. The mixed results came as the Republican Party made widespread gains in contests across the US, propelling Donald Trump to a decisive victory.
The proposal in Florida would have allowed abortion until the point of foetal viability or about 24 weeks, but it fell short of the threshold of 60% support in order to pass. Voters had been asked to weigh in on questions about abortion access in 10 states in this election - the first major presidential contest since the US Supreme Court struck down a national right to the procedure two years ago.
But an amendment aimed at overturning a near-total abortion ban in Missouri, where a majority of voters backed Donald Trump, appeared on track for victory. The state-level fights were an effort by abortion rights campaigners to claw back or preserve access to practice, after many states barred or imposed restrictions on abortion following the ruling.
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Results are still pending from some of the states where abortion is on the ballot in this election - the first presidential contest since the US Supreme Court overturned the national right to abortion two years ago. Democrats had also hoped the issue would help galvanise voters to their side this election, crediting anger over the issue with helping the party to a better-than-expected performance in midterm elections in 2022.
The ruling prompted many states to introduce bans or severe restrictions on the practice, reducing access for millions of American women. Vice-President Kamala Harris leaned into the issue throughout her campaign, appealing to women across party lines.
Arizona, Nebraska, Nevada, Florida, Maryland, New York, Missouri, Montana, Colorado and South Dakota answered questions on access in the election ballot. But that momentum did not appear consistently this year, as exit polls suggested abortion ranked below topics such as the economy and democracy.
While the ballot looked different in each of the 10 states, most asked whether the right to abortion until foetal viability should be enshrined. In Missouri, which backed Donald Trump decisively, abortion rights campaigners still notched a major victory, as voters approved an amendment intended to overturn a near-total abortion ban in the state.
Since the ruling, campaigns to restore or protect abortion access by using state-level ballot propositions have been successful, including in reliably conservative states such as Kansas. In Arizona, another state Trump won, more than 60% of voters backed an amendment to protect the right to abortion until the point of viability - roughly 24 weeks. The measure extends access from the current 15 weeks currently allowed under state rules.
Vice-President Kamala Harris had also leaned into the abortion issue throughout her campaign. But a similar proposal in Florida fell just short of the threshold of 60% support needed in order to pass, winning just 57% support.
The change was brought about by the US Supreme Court in June 2022. The measure had faced strong opposition from Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who used state resources to persuade voters to vote “no”.
After the Roe v Wade ruling - which had guaranteed women the right to an abortion up until foetal viability - was overturned, Missouri was the first state to ban abortion, except in emergencies. It also became a political headache for Trump, who initially appeared to support the measure, but later said he would vote against it after pushback from within his own party.
In Arizona, more than 60% of voters backed an amendment to protect the right to abortion until the point of viability. The measure extends access from the current 15 weeks currently allowed under state rules. The defeat will let stand the strict law the state enacted earlier this year, banning abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy, with limited exceptions.
Campaigners in Florida had promoted the amendment as a way to override the strict law enacted earlier this year, which banned abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy, with limited exceptions.
Trump had initially appeared to support the measure, but said he would vote against it after receiving pushback within his own party.
The measure also faced strong opposition from Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who used state resources to persuade voters to vote “no”.
With 95% of the votes reported, the Florida amendment was projected to win support from 57% of voters, according to Reuters.
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Betsy Linkhorst, a first-time voter in Florida, said the result in her state left her "heartbroken, scared and frankly, worried for the future".Betsy Linkhorst, a first-time voter in Florida, said the result in her state left her "heartbroken, scared and frankly, worried for the future".
"This was such an important opportunity to protect women’s rights and our ability to make decisions over our own bodies," the 18-year-old said."This was such an important opportunity to protect women’s rights and our ability to make decisions over our own bodies," the 18-year-old said.
Maria McNally, who voted against the amendment, said she believed that it would have allowed abortions too far into pregnancy.Maria McNally, who voted against the amendment, said she believed that it would have allowed abortions too far into pregnancy.
“I’m happy it failed,” she said.“I’m happy it failed,” she said.
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Maria McNally said she was happy the proposed changes failed in FloridaMaria McNally said she was happy the proposed changes failed in Florida
Results of abortion-related ballot questions are still pending in states including Montana and Nebraska. Voters in the US facing abortion questions on the ballot this year came from states with a wide range of different laws surrounding abortion.
In Maryland and Colorado, where abortion is currently legal, voters approved measures to enshrine a right to the procedure in the state constitutions. The questions they were asked to decide also varied, though most initiatives proposed to establish a state right to abortion until foetal viability - about the 24th week of pregnancy.
In previous election cycles, campaigns to restore or protect abortion access by using state-level ballot propositions had been, including in reliably conservative states such as Kansas.
But the results from this cycle largely cemented the reality that women in the US will have widely different access to abortion depending on where they live.
Voters in Nebraska and South Dakota rejected measures that would have expanded access, while in Maryland and Colorado, where abortion is currently legal, voters approved measures to enshrine a right to the procedure in the state constitutions.
In Colorado's case, the amendment will also expand access, allowing abortion to be covered under government health insurance plans.In Colorado's case, the amendment will also expand access, allowing abortion to be covered under government health insurance plans.
Nevada voters also approved a measure to establish a right to abortion in the state's constitution. Under current rules, it is allowed until the 24th week, with exceptions to protect the life of the mother. In Montana and Nevada, where abortion is currently legal until about viability, voters approved measures to codify that right in the constitution.
A majority of voters will have to approve the measure again in two years for the amendment to be enacted. In Nevada, a majority of voters will have to approve the measure again in two years for the amendment to be enacted.
Nebraska voters are projected to have enshrined the state's current 12-week abortion ban in the state's constitution with some exceptions, including incest, rape and saving the life of a pregnant woman.
South Dakota - in which abortions are prohibited except when necessary to save the life of the mother - rejected a proposal to establish a constitutional right to abortion.
New York, where abortion is legal until viability, approved an amendment that would bar discrimination due to pregnancy or reproductive health.New York, where abortion is legal until viability, approved an amendment that would bar discrimination due to pregnancy or reproductive health.
In Arizona, where abortion is currently legal until the 15th week of pregnancy, it is projected that voters have approved a proposal to protect the right to abortion up to the 24th week. In Nebraska, voters faced two duelling abortion initiatives. They rejected one that would have made abortion a right until viability and approved the state's current rules, which ban abortion after the 12th week of pregnancy, with some exceptions, including incest, rape and saving the life of the mother.
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