10 States with Initiatives to Move Abortion Rights Forward this Fall

Blog | September 27, 2024

Across the country, the movement to codify reproductive rights as law is gaining momentum. Here are 10 states with initiatives up for a vote this November:

Arizona

The proposed legislation would ensure abortion access until viability and in instances necessary to protect the life, physical, or mental health of the patient.

Colorado

Abortion is already legal at all stages in Colorado, and the legislation coming up for a vote would enshrine the right in the state constitution as well as requiring Medicaid and private health insurance to cover abortions.

Florida

The proposal would protect access until viability and when needed to protect a patient’s health. Parental notification would remain a requirement.

Maryland

A broad reproductive freedom amendment has been offered that is inclusive of the right to abortion.

Missouri

The ballot measure on offer would give the right to abortion until a fetus could survive outside the uterus without extraordinary measures. It would also allow late abortions if needed to protect the life, physical, or mental health of the patient.

Montana

A constitutional amendment has been proposed to protect access to abortions until viability.

Nebraska

2 initiatives on the ballot. One would enshrine access until viability (or later to protect health) in the state constitution. The other would write the current 12-week ban into the constitution with exceptions for rape, incest, and life-saving measures.

Nevada

A potential constitutional amendment would ensure access for the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. It would also allow for later abortions to protect the health of the patient. It needs to be approved by voters twice, once in 2024, and again in 2026.

New York

A proposed measure would bar the state government from denying legal rights based on “pregnancy outcomes” and “reproductive healthcare”. This document does NOT include the word abortion anywhere in it.

South Dakota

The proposed legislation would disallow abortion bans during the first trimester, only allow regulation of abortions in the second trimester in relation to the health of the mother, and only allow bans in the third trimester if exceptions are given for life-threatening situations.