Six US states expand their rights as Florida vote 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.

During the seismic election, various questions about abortion access were on the ballot in 10 states, with the issue galvanizing many voters.

The Florida proposal would have allowed abortion up to the point of fetal viability, or about 24 weeks, but it missed the 60% approval 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 to be on track for victory.

Some results are still pending States where abortion is on the ballot in this election – the first presidential contest since the fall of the US Supreme Court the national right to abortion two years ago.

The ruling prompted many states to introduce bans or strict restrictions on the practice, thereby reducing the number of cases Access for millions of American women.

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

While the vote varied in each of the ten states, most asked whether the right to abortion should be enshrined until the fetus is viable.

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

Vice President Kamala Harris also addressed the abortion issue throughout her campaign.

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

After Roe v. Wade ruling – which had guaranteed women the right to abortion until the fetus was viable – was repealed, Missouri became the first state to ban abortion except in emergencies.

In Arizona, more than 60% of voters supported an amendment that would protect the right to abortion until feasible. The measure extends access from the current 15 weeks allowed under state rules.

Activists in Florida had advocated the change as a way to override the strict law passed earlier this year that banned abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy with few exceptions.

Trump initially seemed to support the measure, but he did said he would vote against it after facing opposition within his own party.

The measure was also strong Opposition from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who used government resources to persuade voters to vote “no.”

According to Reuters, with 95% of votes cast, the Florida amendment is expected to receive the support of 57% of voters.

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

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

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

“I’m glad it failed,” she said.

In states like Montana and Nebraska, the results of abortion-related votes are still pending.

In Maryland and Colorado, where abortion is currently legal, voters approved measures to enshrine abortion rights in state constitutions.

In Colorado's case, the change will also expand access so that abortions can be covered by state health insurance.

Nevada voters also approved a measure enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. Under current rules, it is allowed up to 24 weeks, with exceptions to protect the mother's life.

In two years, a majority of voters must approve the measure again for the change to take effect.

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

South Dakota – where abortion is banned only if necessary to save the mother's life – rejected a proposal to establish a constitutional right to abortion.

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

In Arizona, where abortion is currently legal up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, voters are expected to approve a proposal to protect the right to abortion up to 24 weeks.