Abortion rights/ 2024 election/ Missouri abortion ban/ reproductive health policy/ pro-choice amendments/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ In a historic election outcome, voters in seven U.S. states, including Missouri, passed measures favoring abortion rights, clearing a path to reverse stringent abortion bans. However, three states—Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota—rejected similar amendments, keeping restrictive abortion laws intact. This mixed outcome underscores the complex and evolving landscape of abortion policy in America, especially following the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade.
Abortion Rights: Quick Look
- Missouri Victory: Voters supported an amendment to ease Missouri’s total abortion ban, potentially permitting abortions up to fetal viability.
- Three Defeats: Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota retained restrictive abortion bans after rejecting pro-choice amendments.
- Additional Wins: Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, and Montana passed pro-choice amendments; Nevada passed one needing a 2026 reevaluation.
- National Shift: Ballot measures reflect shifting abortion rights landscape since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.
Abortion Rights Win in 7 States, But Fail in 3
Deep Look
In a significant shift for abortion rights in the U.S., seven states, including Missouri, advanced measures supporting abortion access in the 2024 election, clearing legal pathways to challenge or overturn some of the nation’s strictest abortion bans. However, similar amendments in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota were rejected by voters, marking setbacks for abortion rights in these traditionally conservative states.
One of the most closely watched outcomes was in Missouri, where voters approved an amendment paving the way to potentially lift the state’s comprehensive abortion ban. Missouri’s amendment stops short of an outright repeal; rather, it requires courts to align the existing ban with the new law that allows abortion access up to fetal viability—generally around 21 weeks. This amendment makes Missouri poised to become the first state where voters could reverse an all-stage abortion ban. Rachel Sweet, campaign manager of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, emphasized the significance of the decision, stating it affirms that reproductive health decisions are private matters to be decided by patients and their families.
While Missouri took steps toward expanding abortion rights, voters in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota decided to maintain strict abortion bans. In Florida, the defeat of an amendment was particularly impactful. Although it garnered majority support, it fell short of the 60% threshold required to pass constitutional amendments. Governor Ron DeSantis, who played a central role in the campaign to block the amendment, celebrated the outcome as a win for pro-life advocates and a key policy victory under his administration. Florida’s continued restrictions prevent the state from serving as an abortion destination in the South, following its adoption of a six-week ban earlier this year. This restriction has forced many women to travel long distances for abortion services, with North Carolina and Virginia among the nearest options.
South Dakota and Nebraska further solidified their restrictive stances on abortion access. South Dakota voters decisively rejected an amendment that would have permitted regulated abortion access after 12 weeks, a measure that national abortion-rights groups did not support. In Nebraska, a measure enshrining the state’s existing 12-week ban passed, while a competing initiative to protect abortion rights was defeated.
In contrast, voters in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, and New York supported measures to expand or secure abortion rights. Arizona’s amendment replaces an existing 15-week abortion limit, while Colorado’s measure not only expands abortion access but also lifts a previous prohibition on state and local funds being used for abortion services. This decision could pave the way for Medicaid and government insurance to cover abortion care. Maryland’s amendment reinforces existing legal protections, ensuring abortion rights in a state where access is already safeguarded. Meanwhile, Nevada’s amendment, which passed, will require a second approval in 2026 for it to take effect.
New York also made significant strides, passing an equal rights amendment that outlaws discrimination based on “pregnancy outcomes, reproductive healthcare, and autonomy.” The amendment stops short of explicitly mentioning abortion but has been hailed as a powerful protective measure. Advocates, including Sasha Ahuja, campaign director for New Yorkers for Equal Rights, called the result a triumph against opponents who used divisive rhetoric to challenge the measure.
This election marks a complex moment in the post-Roe v. Wade landscape. Since the Supreme Court’s landmark 2022 ruling that overturned Roe, 13 states have imposed abortion bans with limited exceptions, while four others have implemented six-week restrictions. Despite these bans, the frequency of abortions in the U.S. has slightly increased due to the growing use of medication-based abortions and networks that help women travel to obtain the procedure.
Abortion rights remain a focal issue for voters, with AP VoteCast surveys showing that nearly a quarter of voters nationwide considered abortion policy the most crucial factor in their decisions. In Missouri and Florida, the stakes were particularly high, with a significant majority viewing the abortion-related amendments as essential outcomes of the election. As the issue continues to resonate, the results of this election indicate a deeply polarized but highly engaged electorate navigating the evolving terrain of reproductive rights in America.
