Missouri Ballot to Include Amendment for Abortion Access Protection

Voters in Missouri will have an opportunity to decide whether to include the right to an abortion in their state constitution. This development comes after state officials confirmed the validity of a citizen-led initiative on Tuesday.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) announced that the petition gathered more than sufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot in November. The decision marks an important moment in the state, which currently enforces a nearly total ban on abortion. Missouri was the first state to impose such restrictions following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade more than two years ago.

The existing abortion ban in Missouri allows few exceptions, only in cases of medical emergencies, excluding survivors of rape or incest. Under current law, performing or inducing an abortion is classified as a felony, punishable by a prison term of five to 15 years. Notably, a woman who seeks an abortion cannot be prosecuted. Since the ban was enacted, there have been virtually no abortions performed by medical professionals in the state.

The proposed amendment seeks to establish a right to an abortion until the point of fetal viability. It would also prevent any state regulations on the procedure. Proponents assert that this amendment would empower individuals to make personal decisions regarding pregnancy, including choices about abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care, without political interference.

This initiative places Missouri among at least five other states with abortion-related ballot measures slated for this fall. Other predominantly conservative states are also considering efforts to overturn existing bans. Historically, wherever voters were given a chance to weigh in on abortion-related questions since the reversal of Roe, they have tended to favor protecting access.

Rachel Sweet, campaign manager for the Missourians for Constitutional Freedom coalition, hailed the announcement as a significant victory for the initiative. “This is a monumental achievement for our campaign and a significant step forward for the rights of all Missourians,” she remarked.

To pass, the amendment will require a simple majority of votes. With certification in hand, Sweet indicated that the coalition would now concentrate on mobilizing voters and rolling out a series of events throughout the state in the coming week.

“We will be present in every corner of Missouri, championing a cause that we know Missourians overwhelmingly support,” Sweet stated. “As a proud Missourian who has led abortion rights ballot measure campaigns in states across the Midwest, I am honored to say that it is our turn to do something that no other state has done before; end a total abortion ban at the ballot box.”

In addition to Missouri, states like Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, and South Dakota will also have abortion measures on their ballots. Arizona’s initiative aimed at protecting abortion rights was certified by the state secretary, though there remain ongoing legal challenges.

There are also discussions of potential abortion ballot measures being contemplated in Montana, Arkansas, and Nebraska, but those have yet to receive official certification.

In a twist, Ashcroft and other state Republicans previously mounted a legal campaign in an attempt to block the amendment from appearing on the ballot. Tori Schafer, deputy director for policy and campaigns with the ACLU of Missouri, remarked, “We filed this amendment over a year ago, fought and won every lawsuit against power-hungry politicians and activated hundreds of volunteers who collected more than 380,000 signatures to put this amendment on the ballot.”

Schafer also noted that the coalition is bracing for further legal challenges as the process unfolds, demonstrating the ongoing contentious atmosphere surrounding abortion rights in the state.