Six US states expand rights as Florida referendum fails

Voters in six states have approved measures to protect or expand abortion rights, but an attempt to restore protections for the procedure failed in Florida.

A number of abortion access issues were on the ballot in 10 states during the seismic election, with the issue a galvanizing force for many voters.

The Florida proposal would have allowed abortion up to the point of fetal viability, or about 24 weeks, but it fell short of the 60% support threshold to pass.

But an amendment aimed at overturning a near-total abortion ban in Missouri, where a majority of voters supported Donald Trump, appeared headed for victory.

Results are still pending from some of them states where abortion is on the ballot in this election — the first presidential contest since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the national right to abortion two years ago.

The decision prompted many states to enact bans or severe restrictions on the practice, reducing access for millions of American women.

Arizona, Nebraska, Nevada, Florida, Maryland, New York, Missouri, Montana, Colorado and South Dakota answered questions about access on the ballot.

While the ballot looked different in each of the 10 states, most asked whether the right to abortion until fetal viability should be repealed.

Since the ruling, campaigns to restore or protect abortion access using state-level ballots have been successful, including in reliably conservative states like Kansas.

Vice President Kamala Harris had also leaned into the abortion issue throughout her campaign.

The change was filed by the US Supreme Court in June 2022.

After Roe v. Wade ruling – which had guaranteed women the right to abortion until fetal viability – was overturned, Missouri was the first state to ban abortion except in emergencies.

In Arizona, more than 60% of voters supported an amendment to protect the right to abortion until viability. The measure expands access from the current 15 weeks currently allowed under state regulations.

Campaigns in Florida had promoted the amendment as a way to override the strict law passed earlier this year that banned abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy, with limited exceptions.

Trump initially appeared to support the measure, but said he would vote against it after receiving pushback within his own party.

The measure also stood strong opposition from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who used government funds to persuade voters to vote “no”.

With 95% of the vote reported, the Florida amendment was expected to win support from 57% of voters, according to Reuters.

Betsy Linkhorst, a first-time voter in Florida, said the result in her state left her “devastated, scared and frankly worried about the future”.

“This was such an important opportunity to protect women’s rights and our ability to make decisions over our own bodies,” said the 18-year-old.

Maria McNally, who voted against the amendment, said she believed it would have allowed abortions too far into pregnancy.

“I’m glad it failed,” she said.

The results of abortion-related ballots are still pending in states including Montana and Nebraska.

In Maryland and Colorado, where abortion is currently legal, voters approved measures to enshrine a right to the procedure in state constitutions.

In Colorado’s case, the change would also expand access so that abortion can be covered by the state’s health insurance plans.

Nevada voters also approved a measure to establish a right to abortion in the state constitution. According to current regulations, it is allowed until the 24th week, with exceptions to protect the mother’s life.

A majority of voters must approve the measure again in two years before the amendment can pass.

Nebraska voters are expected to have enshrined the state’s current 12-week abortion ban in the state constitution with some exceptions, including incest, rape and saving a pregnant woman’s life.

South Dakota – where abortions are prohibited except when necessary to save the mother’s life – rejected a proposal to establish a constitutional right to abortion.

New York, where abortion is legal until viability, approved an amendment that would prevent discrimination based on pregnancy or reproductive health.

In Arizona, where abortion is currently legal until the 15th week of pregnancy, voters are expected to have approved a proposal to protect the right to abortion up to the 24th week.