Tuesday’s ballot measures came months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion guaranteed to women nationwide. The Dobbs decision in June led to near-total bans in a dozen states. Supporters of the push to protect abortion rights in Michigan collected more signatures than any other ballot initiative in the state’s history to bring it before voters. It puts a permanent end to the 1931 abortion ban that had been blocked in court, but could have been revived. It also affirms the right to make pregnancy-related decisions about abortion and other reproductive services, such as birth control without intervention. On the Michigan State University campus, junior Devin Roberts said students seemed “lit” and that he had seen lines of voters spilling out of the school’s polling centers throughout the day. The ballot measure was one of the key drivers of the high turnout, he said. “There is a lot of energy for Prop 3 on campus right now, whether you agree with abortion or not,” Roberts said. “I think students want to have the same rights that their parents had when they were younger.” WATCHES | On the ground with Michigan abortion activists:
Abortion rights on ballot in Michigan midterm elections
In Michigan, midterm voters will decide whether to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. It is one of several states where abortion rights will literally be on the ballot. On both sides of the issue, voters say lives are at stake. Nationally, about two-thirds of voters say abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to the AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of more than 90,000 voters across the country. Only about 1 in 10 say abortion should be illegal in all cases. About six in 10 also say the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion made them unhappy or angry, compared with fewer who say they are happy or satisfied.
Kentucky voters prevent vested ban
James Miller, 66, of Flint, Mich., said he thought of his daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters when he voted for the measure. “I think we have to do the right thing for women,” she said. “It’s her body; it’s her privacy.” Michelle Groesser, of Swartz Creek, Mich., said she is opposed to abortion, although she believes any ban would have some minor exceptions. “In a perfect world, I personally would like all life to be preserved,” he said. Opponents argued that Michigan’s measure could have far-reaching effects on other state laws, such as one that requires parental notification of abortions for those under 18. a process that could take years and has no certainty of success. Counter-protesters hold ‘no’ signs in front of a rally encouraging voters to vote yes on Amendment 2, which would add a permanent ban on abortion to the Kentucky state constitution, on the steps of the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. . October 1. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images) In deeply conservative Kentucky, voters rejected a ballot measure aimed at denying any constitutional protections to abortion, handing a victory to abortion rights advocates who have seen access to the procedure eroded by Republican lawmakers in the deeply red state. Kentucky’s ballot question had asked voters if they wanted to amend the constitution to say: “For the protection of human life, nothing in this constitution shall be construed to guarantee or protect the right to abortion or to require the funding of abortion”. Rachel Sweet of Protect Kentucky Access, an abortion rights coalition, hailed the result as a “historic victory” against “government overreach” in the personal medical decisions of Kentuckians. While a significant moral victory for abortion rights advocates, the amendment’s defeat will have no practical impact on abortion rights if the sweeping ban on the procedure already approved by lawmakers survives a legal challenge. However, the rejection of the amendment leaves open the possibility that abortion will be declared a state right by the court. The Kentucky Supreme Court has a hearing next week on the state’s two remaining abortion clinics’ challenges to the near-total abortion ban passed by lawmakers. The high court ruled this summer that the ban will remain in place while it reviews the challenges.
California seeks to uphold the right to contraception
The issue of reproductive rights in Vermont came after the legislature passed a law in 2019 guaranteeing reproductive rights, including pregnancy and access to birth control. Supporters of the Reproductive Freedom Voting Committee said the Roe overturn meant “state-level protections are critical to ensuring access to reproductive health care.” California had already passed several measures aimed at making abortion more accessible and has set aside millions of taxpayer dollars to help pay for some out-of-state abortion trips. On Tuesday, voters approved language that would expressly guarantee access to abortion and contraception in the state constitution. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, right, takes a selfie with supporters at a turnout and vote yes at the Proposition 1 rally at Long Beach City College in Long Beach, Calif., Sunday. (Damian Dovarganes/The Associated Press) Montana voters, meanwhile, were also considering newborn resuscitation care requirements with potential criminal penalties, including the rare case of attempted abortion. The question for Montana voters was whether to impose criminal penalties on health care providers unless they do what is “medically appropriate and reasonable” to save a baby’s life after birth, including the rare possibility of a postnatal from attempted abortion. According to local media reports, as of 8:30 a.m. ET, 52 percent opposed the measure, with results from many districts still to come.
