Missouri Voters Will Decide On Significant Amendment This November

A pivotal vote this November will determine the fate of a constitutional amendment on abortion rights in Missouri, stirring significant debate across the state.

At a Glance

Missouri voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion rights in November.
If passed, Missouri would be the first state to end a total abortion ban via ballot measure.
The initiative is supported by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, Planned Parenthood, and the ACLU.
Missouri joins at least six other states voting on abortion rights during the presidential election.
The amendment would legalize abortion up until fetal viability, generally around 24 weeks.

Background on the Upcoming Vote

In November, Missouri voters will have a historically significant opportunity to decide on a constitutional amendment concerning abortion rights. This critical measure aims to reverse the state’s near-total ban and secure the right to abortion, a move that would significantly alter the legal landscape and social fabric of Missouri.

The initiative, certified by the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office, is a part of a broader ballot that includes proposals to legalize sports wagering and raise the minimum wage. The amendment proposes to legalize abortion up until fetal viability, generally around 24 weeks, with exceptions to protect the life or health of the pregnant person.

BREAKING: A Missouri amendment that would enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution has received enough signatures to be on the ballot on November 5.

Voting yes on Amendment 3 will put an end to the state’s extreme abortion ban.

— ACLU (@ACLU) August 13, 2024

Support and Opposition

Proponents, including Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, Planned Parenthood affiliates, and the ACLU, argue that this amendment is necessary to restore reproductive autonomy and healthcare access in the state. Rachel Sweet, campaign manager for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, urged Missourians to “do something that no other state has done before—end a total abortion ban at the ballot box” (AP News & ABC News).

“Politicians have tied doctors’ hands and the stakes could not be higher,” said Mallory Schwarz, executive director of Abortion Action Missouri. “With a yes vote on amendment 3 this November, we are taking back what’s ours.” (Missouri Independent)

Opponents, including Republican gubernatorial nominee Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, have labeled the measure as an “extreme proposal funded by out-of-state liberals” (AP News). They argue that this measure could lead to unregulated and unlimited abortions throughout any stage of pregnancy. Stephanie Bell, spokeswoman for Missouri Stands with Women, stated that the amendment would “take away the right from every person who loses a child or a loved one because of negligence during pregnancy, labor, or delivery the freedom to sue for malpractice and obtain compensation” (Missouri Independent).

The Larger Context

This vote comes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which has sparked state-level battles over abortion rights. Currently, Missouri stands among states with extremely restrictive abortion laws, allowing limited exceptions only for medical emergencies. The amendment, if passed, would bring Missouri back to the standards set by the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, reinstating broader access to abortion services.

“Right now, Missouri has one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country, and it only took politicians a matter of minutes to enforce the ban when Roe fell,” noted Tori Schafer, the director for policy and campaigns at the ACLU of Missouri. “Missourians have the power to change this. This November, we have the opportunity to make our voices heard by passing Amendment 3” (CBS News).

Missouri voters will decide in November whether to guarantee a right to abortion with a constitutional amendment that would reverse the state’s near-total ban on the procedure. https://t.co/IqyLVl3Vff

— PBS News (@NewsHour) August 13, 2024

Implications Beyond Missouri

Missouri’s initiative is part of a broader trend, with at least six other states voting on abortion rights during the presidential election. The nation watches closely, as Missouri could set a significant precedent by being the first to use a ballot measure to end a total abortion ban. This unfolding drama signifies the ongoing, heated debate on abortion rights and its impact on America’s political and social fabric.

“Sue Liebel, Midwestern regional director for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a statement that the Missouri ballot measure ‘would end thousands of lives'” (CBS News).

As Missourians head to the polls in November, the outcome of this vote holds consequences far beyond state lines, potentially shaping the national discourse on reproductive rights for years to come.