Missouri’s November ballot initiative may overturn state abortion ban

Missouri residents will have the opportunity to vote in November on a significant initiative that aims to secure abortion rights in the state constitution.

On Tuesday, the Missouri Secretary of State confirmed the certification of a ballot measure that seeks to repeal Missouri’s current abortion ban, allowing it to appear on the November ballot as Amendment 3.

This development adds Missouri to the list of seven states with confirmed abortion-related measures on their general election ballots.

If the initiative gains approval from voters in November, it would guarantee the right to an abortion in Missouri’s constitution until fetal viability, which typically occurs around 24 weeks. Abortions would still be permitted post-viability if a physician determines it is necessary for the mother’s health.

At present, Missouri has enacted a comprehensive ban on abortion, with minimal exceptions.

The measure, driven by the group Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, also aims to establish various reproductive healthcare rights within the Missouri state constitution. This includes but is not limited to rights regarding prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions.

The initiative requires more than 50% of voter support to be enacted.

Rachel Sweet, the campaign manager for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, described the announcement as a “monumental achievement for our campaign, and a significant step forward for the rights of all Missourians,” during a press call following the certification.

If successful, advocates assert that Missouri could become the first state to reverse a near-total abortion ban that was implemented following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022, a ruling that had previously guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion.

Since the Supreme Court’s decision, 22 states have enacted various restrictions or bans on abortion, including the revival of pre-Roe laws. Currently, fourteen states have imposed total or near-total bans on the procedure.

Prominent figures, including fashion model and television host Karlie Kloss, have publicly supported the Missouri ballot initiative. Kloss, who is connected to Jared Kushner (the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump), highlighted in an April op-ed for The Washington Post the importance of passing the initiative, emphasizing that it represents a crucial step toward ensuring that abortion remains safely and affordably accessible to patients nationwide.

Kloss also played an active role in gathering signatures in support of the initiative earlier this year.

The announcement regarding Missouri’s initiative follows closely after Arizona’s Secretary of State indicated that voters in that state would also decide in November on a similar measure to enshrine abortion rights in their constitution.