Abortion-rights supporters chant their objections at the Kentucky Capitol on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Frankfort, Ky., Kentucky is one of at least six states where voters will weigh on on abortion-related ballot measures in 2022.
How are states handling the matter of ballot questions now that the Supreme Court has overruled Roe v. Wade and abortion rights are a state-by-state decision? The most abortion-related ballot proposals to emerge in a single year since 1986 are on the ballot in six states as of 2022, with amendments and measures affecting abortion rights. These six states have added initiatives to their ballots for the upcoming midterm elections in November.
In the August primaries, Kansas was one of the states that removed abortion from the ballot. Voters in Kansas soundly rejected initiatives allowing politicians to enact stricter or outright bans on abortion.
Voters in Kentucky will decide whether to change the state constitution to exclude abortion from its protection. Since the GOP took over the state's legislature in 2016, Kentucky has had a history of tightening abortion laws.
Voters in Montana were asked whether they wanted to mandate medical attention and treatment for children "born alive" following an unsuccessful abortion. A failed abortion or a C-section birth would disqualify a newborn from personhood under the "born-alive" amendment, which would also mandate that they get medical attention.
Access to abortions and other reproductive healthcare services would increase in California. Their ballot's language does not forbid abortion after embryonic viability, so if it passes, pregnant women would have more alternatives on the road, if necessary.
Vermont has added the simple statement of adding a line to the states constitution stating that "[A]n individual's right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine one's life course and shall not be denied or infringed unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means."
A proposal creating a "new individual right to reproductive freedom" has finally received approval from the Michigan Supreme Court. The state includes infertility treatment, contraception, and abortion on its November ballot. A ballot proposition to add the Michigan constitution's protection for abortion was backed by 64% of voters.
Sources:
- https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2022-10-22/explainer-which-states-have-abortion-on-the-ballot
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/11/us-midterms-abortion-initiatives-california-michigan-kentucky-vermont-montana
- https://www.businessinsider.com/which-states-have-abortion-ballot-measures-in-2022-2022-5
5 comments:
It's fascinating to see the wide variety of policy responses to abortion rights throughout the country. It's also interesting to investigate how states are reacting to the new need for interstate abortion policy, with states such as California, New Jersey, and New York implementing measures to become "safe-haven" states for those in more restrictive areas who wish to terminate their pregnancies but cannot in their home states. Additionally, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh has stated that travel for the purpose of an abortion is still legal, despite attempts by many conservative states with abortion bans to punish those who terminate their pregnancy out of state. These attempts have also caused widespread fear surrounding the use of period tracking apps, online messaging, and other information that could hint at an unwanted pregnancy. It will be interesting to see how the new abortion policies on the November state ballots influence this interstate abortion policy dance.
Source: https://time.com/6191581/abortion-safe-haven-states/
The fact that more liberally, progressive states are now "safe-havens" for those in states unable to get abortions is, quite frankly, terrifying to see. People are forced to flee their home and their states, in order to get a medical procedure that could either be necessary to survive or an action to prevent another child in foster care or ill-treatment when being brought up. Larger companies, such as Starbucks and Amazon are now offering to pay for abortion travel that covers transportation fees in order to receive a safe and legal abortion for their employees. This large, overwhelming stigmatization of abortion is extremely destructive because the truth is, abortions are being performed everywhere (legally, or not). Once people understand the necessity of abortion, then hopefully state officials (predominantly men) reopen the accessibility to this basic medical right.
It's very interesting to see the different approaches states are taking from trying to ban abortions to not doing anything, to becoming safe havens. I was surprised only 6 states had abortion bills on the ballot as I would assume that with the overturn of Roe v. Wade, every state would need to decide what policy to adopt going forward. It is also I am also curious to see what the verdicts end up being because I know that one of the major arguments against the overturn was that it didn't represent the wishes of the general American public, but rather the wishes of a few conservative and powerful men. So now, the decision is in the voters' hands and I hope that they demonstrate through their votes that the overturn did not represent their wishes. However, I am not confident that will happen as I also know that many people who fight against abortion or the same people who pay for them or have had them in the past but decline to admit that.
After Roe v. Wade was overturned, I can slowly see how more conservative states are grabbing ahold of more power to eventually outlaw abortion as a whole across the country-- which, by the way, won't make abortions disappear but make them more dangerous and unaccessible. Similarly to Arizona, which recently had a total-abortion ban enacted, it's quite evident that new, and potentially fatal, abortion policies are being introduced in less liberally progressive states(as Shreya mentioned). I mean really, my question is why the Supreme Court went against the majority in the first place.
I think its absolutely crazy to see how many states are banning abortion without excuses for rape and incest. I don't understand why so many of these state legislators believe it is okay for a 10 year old to be carrying a baby, or that it won't have any lasting trauma effects. Roe v. Wade was established in the 70's and it's as if we are going back in time in the rights of women. Additionally, I think it is amazing how California's governor is implementing so many steps to help all the women in the country unable to receive abortions in their states by making it a "Safe haven". I specifically find that The AB 1666 by California Assembly member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan that seeks to protect individuals in California from civil liability for providing, aiding, or receiving abortion care in the state, is very influential towards Californias "safe haven" goals.
Source: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB1666
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