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UPDATE, January 24, 2024: This text has been up to date to mirror developments in Arkansas.
Abortion wins elections. We noticed it final 12 months when Ohio voters enshrined abortion rights into the state structure, and in 2022 when Kansas, Kentucky, and Michigan voters rejected abortion restrictions and affirmed expanded protections.
Now, advocates and opponents alike are pushing extra abortion-related measures onto upcoming ballots. Rewire Information Group might be monitoring abortion poll initiatives and updating this record as teams collect signatures for his or her petitions and safe their place on this 12 months’s elections.
Alabama
The state doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Alabama has a complete abortion ban with restricted exceptions.
Alaska
Alaska doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. The state supreme court docket has dominated a number of occasions that abortion is constitutionally protected, and pregnant individuals can obtain abortion care at any level throughout being pregnant.
Arizona
Arizona for Abortion Entry, a coalition of pro-choice teams together with the ACLU of Arizona, Healthcare Rising Arizona, Deliberate Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, and extra, is gathering signatures to place a constitutional modification affirming the suitable to abortion on the November 2024 poll. As of January 12, advocates had collected greater than 250,000 of the 383,923 signatures wanted by July 3 to get the measure on the poll. The modification would permit for abortion care up till the level of fetal viability, someplace between 24 and 26 weeks. Abortion is at present banned at 15 weeks.
Arkansas
On January 23, Arkansas Legal professional Basic Tim Griffin licensed an abortion rights poll measure after earlier makes an attempt had been rejected over language. Advocates can now collect signatures to get the measure on the poll.
On November 28, 2023, Griffin first rejected the title for a proposed poll measure—dubbed the Arkansas Reproductive Healthcare Modification that aimed to legalize abortion entry as much as 18 weeks. In his rejection, Griffin cited confusion over the poll language’s use of the phrases like “entry” and “well being,” and mentioned the poll’s title “is tinged with partisan coloring and deceptive.”
After having its proposed abortion entry poll language rejected by Arkansas Legal professional Basic Tim Griffin for a second time on January 4, advocates submitted a 3rd draft of the measure addressing the final of Griffin’s issues on January 8.
The poll query committee behind the initiative, Arkansans for Restricted Authorities (organized by the nonprofit For AR Individuals), mentioned it should suggest a revised poll measure to the lawyer basic’s workplace.
The Pure State has a complete abortion ban with restricted exceptions.
California
The state doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In 2022, Californians voted to amend the state structure to incorporate the suitable to abortion. Abortion is banned on the level of viability.
Colorado
The Colorado Reproductive Well being, Rights, and Justice Coalition introduced in late August its intent to get a poll measure to codify abortion rights into the state structure. The coalition submitted two measures—one to enshrine abortion rights into the state structure and one other to permit abortion to be lined by state and native authorities staff’ medical health insurance—for title consideration. In line with Ballotpedia, the measure that may constitutionally shield abortion was accepted for petition circulation in October, and the measure that may shield health-care insurance coverage protection of abortion for presidency staff had its title set by the state Title Board. Colorado Newsline reported that the coalition pushing the initiatives will solely pursue one of many two measures.
In the meantime, anti-abortion group Colorado Life Initiative is pushing abortion ban initiatives, although the same effort by the group was defeated in 2022. Titles had been set for 2 measures that may ban abortion, set up fetal “personhood,” and supply enforcement mechanisms. Abortion in Colorado is at present authorized all through being pregnant.
Connecticut
Connecticut doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In 2022, Connecticut lawmakers handed legal guidelines to guard sufferers touring to the state and abortion care suppliers, in addition to laws permitting doctor assistants, superior follow registered nurses, and nurse midwives to offer procedural abortions. Abortion is banned on the level of viability.
Delaware
The state doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is banned after the purpose of viability.
Florida
Floridians Defending Freedom, a coalition of reproductive rights organizations and residents, has surpassed the variety of statewide petition signatures wanted to place the “Modification to Restrict Authorities Interference With Abortion” on the 2024 poll, although it’s not but an official poll measure. The statewide whole wanted is 891,523, and advocates have collected 911,168 legitimate signatures. Florida additionally requires a sure variety of signatures from every voting district, and Secretary of State Wire Byrd has not but licensed the poll measure. If accepted, abortion could be banned within the Sunshine State after the purpose of viability.
In November 2023, Florida’s Republican Legal professional Basic Ashley Moody requested the state supreme court docket to weigh in on the measure’s language, which she argues is just too obscure for voters to grasp. Advocates have mentioned they’re anxious that an try to save lots of the measure by explicitly defining viability would hamper abortion rights advocacy throughout the nation for the foreseeable future. Abortion is at present banned at 15 weeks.
Georgia
Georgia doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is banned at six weeks, earlier than most individuals know they’re pregnant.
Hawaii
Hawaii doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In March, Gov. Josh Inexperienced signed abortion safety measures into state legislation, each increasing entry and eradicating onerous necessities like solely permitting abortion care in hospital or medical settings. Abortion is banned on the level of viability.
Idaho
Idaho doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is totally banned with restricted exceptions, and suppliers should carry out an “affirmative protection,” proving in court docket that an abortion would meet the state’s authorized exception necessities.
Illinois
Illinois doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle, although Gov. J.B. Pritzker has advocated for a pro-abortion measure to be on the 2024 poll. The state supreme court docket has affirmed that abortion is constitutionally protected, and abortion is banned on the level of viability.
Indiana
Indiana doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In June, the state supreme court docket doubled down on its whole abortion ban with restricted exceptions.
Iowa
Conservative Iowa lawmakers are pushing a poll measure for November 2024 that may add language to Iowa’s state structure declaring it doesn’t “acknowledge, grant, or safe a proper to abortion or require the general public funding of abortion.” Abortion is at present banned at 22 weeks. A six-week ban was signed into legislation in July, however a state choose issued an injunction as a lawsuit in opposition to it makes its manner by means of the courts.
Kansas
Kansas doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In 2022, voters rejected an modification to declare that the state structure didn’t assure the suitable to abortion. Abortion is banned at 22 weeks.
Kentucky
The state doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In 2022, Kentucky voters rejected an modification to forestall the state structure from safeguarding the suitable to or funding for abortion care. The state has a complete abortion ban with restricted exceptions.
Louisiana
Louisiana doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In 2020, voters accepted an modification declaring the state structure doesn’t present for abortion protections or funding. Louisiana has a complete ban, with restricted exceptions.
Maine
Maine doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In July, Gov. Janet Mills signed into legislation a invoice that permits for later abortions if a health care provider deems it medically mandatory. In any other case, abortion is banned on the level of viability.
Maryland
In November, Maryland voters will determine whether or not to approve the Proper to Reproductive Freedom Act, which might affirm “a person’s personal reproductive liberty and gives the State might not, straight or not directly, deny, burden, or abridge the suitable except justified by a compelling State curiosity achieved by the least restrictive means.” Presently, abortion is banned on the level of viability.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is banned at 24 weeks.
Michigan
The Nice Lakes State doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In 2022, voters accepted a constitutional modification guaranteeing the suitable to abortion. Abortion is banned on the level of viability.
Minnesota
Minnesota doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In January, Gov. Tim Walz signed into legislation laws that protects each abortion suppliers and out-of-state sufferers. Abortion is authorized at any level throughout being pregnant.
Mississippi
The state doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In March, the Mississippi Legislature proposed a citizen-led poll initiative course of that particularly banned any abortion-related measures, however your entire effort was killed within the state senate. The Magnolia State has a complete ban with restricted exceptions.
Missouri
Abortion advocates with the group Missourians for Constitutional Freedom are working to place the Missouri Proper to Reproductive Freedom Modification, which might enshrine the suitable to reproductive freedom within the state structure, permit bans or restrictions on abortion care after the purpose of fetal viability besides to guard the pregnant particular person’s life and well being, and repeal the present ban on the November 2024 poll.
GOP operative Jamie Corley began the nonprofit Missouri Girls and Household Analysis Fund in 2023 to file six initiative petitions that may nullify the present state abortion ban, make abortion authorized by means of 12 weeks, and add exceptions for rape, incest, the lifetime of the pregnant particular person, and fetal anomalies to the state’s present abortion ban. All six proposals had been accepted for circulation.
There’s been some drama surrounding the poll language amongst state officers: In September 2023, a choose rewrote a Republican-written poll abstract that described abortions as “harmful and unregulated” to as an alternative say it will assure “the suitable to make choices about reproductive well being care, together with abortion and contraception.” In October, a state appeals court docket rejected Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s proposed language that may confer with the measure’s provisions as offering for “harmful and unregulated abortions till dwell delivery,” saying it was too partisan. The Related Press reported the state supreme court docket declined to listen to Ashcroft’s enchantment.
Abortion is at present banned, and medical doctors should present an “affirmative protection” to offer care that meets the state’s authorized exception.
Montana
On January 16, Montana Legal professional Basic Austin Knudsen blocked a proposed poll measure that may have enshrined abortion rights as much as the purpose of viability within the state structure, the Montana Free Press reported.
In a memorandum to the secretary of state, Knudsen mentioned the measure is legally inadequate, “logrolls” too many points right into a single initiative, and “limits the power of the state to offer for public well being and security.
In line with the Every day Montanan, Raph Graybill, an lawyer representing Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights (led by Deliberate Parenthood Advocates of Montana), mentioned the advocates behind the measure are nonetheless working to get abortion on the poll this 12 months.
“We’ll do every part we are able to, together with taking authorized motion, to make sure Montanans have the chance to vote to safe their rights to make choices about their very own pregnancies, together with the suitable to abortion care, in 2024,” Graybill mentioned.
In November 2023, Deliberate Parenthood Advocates of Montana submitted a poll proposal to affirm Montanans’ proper to make their very own reproductive choices, together with abortion, and forestall the federal government from hindering abortion rights earlier than the purpose of fetal viability. It additionally contained provisions for shielding the pregnant particular person’s life and well being, and it “prevents the federal government from punishing sufferers, health-care suppliers, or anybody who assists somebody in in search of reproductive care, together with abortion care.”
Abortion is banned on the level of viability. In Might 2023, Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a 15-week ban into legislation simply months after Montana voters rejected an anti-abortion invoice. A state court docket quickly blocked the ban.
Nebraska
On November 15, abortion rights coalition Defend Our Rights launched language for a poll measure that may constitutionally shield abortion “till fetal viability”—often round 24 to 26 weeks—or to save lots of the pregnant particular person’s life or well being. Republican Gov. Jim Pillen has vowed to combat the measure and, equally to Florida officers, known as the viability language “obscure and misleading.” Defend Our Rights should acquire signatures from about 123,000 voters, and no less than 5 % of registered voters in 38 of the state’s 93 counties, in accordance with the Hill.
In March 2023, anti-abortion advocates proposed the Nebraska Human Life Safety Act, which might ban procedural and medicine abortions, with an exception to save lots of the pregnant particular person’s life. The petition is in circulation.
Nebraska at present has a 12-week ban.
Nevada
After a district choose within the Silver State shot down a poll initiative that may have offered for the suitable to abortion care up till the purpose of fetal viability—saying the petition was too broad and could be an unfunded mandate—the advocates behind the initiative have launched a second marketing campaign to get abortion rights on Nevada’s poll. The reproductive rights coalition Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom’s new proposal gives for the elemental proper to “abortion carried out or administered by a professional health-care practitioner till fetal viability,” which might happen someday between 24 to 26 weeks of being pregnant. It additionally says a pregnant particular person has the suitable to an abortion to guard their life or well being.
The petition wants 102,362 signatures. As a result of it’s a constitutional modification, it must cross twice in Nevada, which means that voters would wish to determine on it once more in 2026 if it gathers sufficient signatures and features a easy majority of sure votes in 2024. Abortion is at present authorized by means of 24 weeks in Nevada, and Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo signed protections for out-of-state sufferers into legislation in Might.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is banned after 24 weeks.
New Jersey
The Backyard State doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is authorized all through being pregnant.
New Mexico
The state doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is authorized all through being pregnant.
New York
Voters will determine in 2024 whether or not to codify a state Equal Rights Modification that features protections in opposition to discrimination over “being pregnant, being pregnant outcomes, reproductive healthcare and autonomy.” Abortion is at present authorized till the purpose of viability.
North Carolina
North Carolina doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is banned at 12 weeks.
North Dakota
North Dakota doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is totally banned, with restricted exceptions.
Ohio
On November 7, Ohio voters accepted Problem 1, enshrining abortion entry till the purpose of viability within the state structure.
Oklahoma
The Sooner State doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Professional-choice rights activists tried to tee up an abortion rights vote this 12 months, however withdrew it to discover a higher time to get the greater than 170,000 required signatures to place the measure on the November 2024 poll. Abortion is totally banned, with the one exception being to save lots of the pregnant particular person’s life.
Oregon
State Democrats have proposed a constitutional modification to guard abortion entry, same-sex marriage, and gender-affirming care. If it passes the state legislature, Oregonians will get to vote on it in November. Proper now, individuals can get abortion care at any level in being pregnant.
Pennsylvania
In December 2023, Democratic lawmakers in Pennsylvania launched a constitutional modification that would offer for private reproductive liberty, together with abortion. If it passes each chambers of the state legislature, Pennsylvanians will be capable to vote to cross or reject the modification, although the Penn Capital-Star reported the earliest referendum might solely occur in spring 2025.
In November, Pennsylvanians voted to position Daniel McCaffery, who portrayed himself as an abortion rights defender, on the state supreme court docket. Abortion is banned at 24 weeks.
Rhode Island
The state doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is banned on the level of viability.
South Carolina
South Carolina doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is banned at six weeks, earlier than most individuals know they’re pregnant.
South Dakota
Advocacy group Dakotans for Well being is gathering signatures for a 2024 poll initiative, “Restore Roe v. Wade,” that may make abortion care authorized within the first trimester and permit the state to manage abortion within the second and third trimesters. Abortion is at present banned in any respect factors of being pregnant, with restricted exceptions.
Tennessee
Tennessee doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is totally banned, with restricted exceptions.
Texas
The Lone Star State doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is totally banned, with restricted exceptions.
Utah
Utah doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is banned after 18 weeks.
Vermont
The state doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. In November 2022, voters accepted Proposition 5, which constitutionally protects abortion at any level throughout being pregnant.
Virginia
Virginia doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is banned after 26 weeks and 6 days.
Washington
Washington state doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is banned on the level of viability.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is authorized in any respect levels of being pregnant.
West Virginia
The state doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is totally banned, with restricted exceptions, and the state structure consists of language that explicitly excludes abortion rights.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle, although GOP Sen. Ron Johnson has advocated for a vote on a 12-week ban. The state bans abortion at 22 weeks.
Wyoming
The state doesn’t at present have a poll initiative within the upcoming election cycle. Abortion is banned on the level of viability.
Correction: An earlier model of this story misstated Oregon’s present abortion coverage. Oregon has no gestational restrict on abortion care.
This piece was initially revealed on October 11, 2023.
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