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2

Taking Abortion Rights Back, One Ballot At A Time

The power of direct democracy
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We all know that abortion rights are on the ballot this November. Who we elect for President and in state and local races may determine our access to reproductive care.

But in several states, abortion is literally on the ballot. Voters in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota will all have the opportunity to vote for reproductive rights.1

At first, that seems like quite an unlikely group of states. New York and Missouri? Montana alongside Florida? But the ballot language varies. In Arizona, for example, citizens are voting to protect abortion rights up to fetal viability. In South Dakota, where abortion is fully banned, they’re voting to protect reproductive rights before 13 weeks. And in Nebraska, there are actually two competing ballot measures: one to protect abortion rights until viability and one to ban it after the second trimester.

It’s a lot to keep track of.

But what we know is that every time abortion is on the ballot, it wins. Since the fall of Roe v Wade, seven states have voted on amendments to codify reproductive rights. And in every instance, those amendments have passed. Americans don’t want the government interfering in their medical decisions, full stop.

But despite that clear mandate, Republicans are trying their best to shut down these ballot measures. If they really thought that America was a “pro-life nation,” as our guest

pointed out, why are they trying so hard to take the power out of our hands?

This isn’t just a moment about abortion rights. It’s a moment about democracy. So if you live in one of the states with these ballot measures this November, please talk to everyone you know about why this is important to you. We have the power to take our rights back. We just have to use it.

You can hear more of our conversation with Jessica on this week’s Suburban Women Problem episode.

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https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/dashboard/ballot-tracker-status-of-abortion-related-state-constitutional-amendment-measures/

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