Missouri voters have approved an amendment to undo one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bans, in one of seven victories for abortion rights advocates. However, similar constitutional amendments were defeated in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota, leaving bans in place in those states. Other states, including Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, and Montana, passed abortion rights amendments. Nevada voters also approved an amendment, but it will need to be passed again in 2026 for it to take effect.
Missouri is set to be the first state where a vote will undo a ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, allowing lawmakers to restrict abortions only past the point of a fetus’s viability, usually considered after 21 weeks. The defeat of an abortion measure in Florida, despite majority support, makes permanent the state’s six-week ban on abortion. Similarly, South Dakota and Nebraska also saw measures related to abortion restrictions.
On the other hand, states like Arizona, Colorado, and Maryland ensured abortion rights with new amendments. Colorado’s measure not only enshrines access to abortion but also allows state and local government funding for abortion services.
Overall, the results mark a shift in the abortion landscape since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. They also highlight the importance of the issue for voters, with a significant number considering it a crucial factor in their voting decisions. The outcomes of ballot initiatives seeking to overturn strict abortion bans in Florida and Missouri were particularly important to voters in those states.
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