In the years since the federal right to abortion was struck down by the Supreme Court’s conservative majority in 2022, no measure seeking to protect abortion (or reject new restrictions) has ever lost at the polls. That streak ended Tuesday, ca Amendment 4which would have enshrined the right of access to abortion in Floridaand ensure access to the south, fell just below its 60 percent threshold. For now, Florida’s six-week abortion ban will remain in place.

A similar effort in South Dakota was overwhelmingly rejected by voters: Almost 60% voted against a proposal to recognize the right to abortion at the national level. There is currently a total ban on abortion in the state. And in Nebraskawhere dueling measures were placed on the ballot — one to restore abortion rights and one that would maintain the current 12-week ban — voters chose to keep their current ban.

In the other seven states where abortion was on the ballot, voters expanded protections for care. The results of these races will have enormous consequences for millions of women living in those states and neighboring states as well Missouriwhere voters overturned the total ban on abortion.

What does the ballot measure propose? Proposition 139 would amend the state constitution to recognize that Arizonans have a fundamental right to abortion before fetal viability. After viability, the law would protect abortions “to protect the life or health” of the pregnant woman. The amendment would also prohibit laws that seek to punish anyone who helps another person obtain an abortion.

What is the law now? Abortion is currently prohibited in Arizona after 15 weeks. The state imposes a 24-hour waiting period to obtain an abortion and a medically unnecessary ultrasound, among other restrictions. Earlier this year, the state Supreme Court’s conservative majority allowed an even more restrictive ban to take effect — a blanket ban on abortion passed in 1864. The Republican-controlled Legislature only repealed the ban — after initially refusing to, for two or, to consider doing so – under enormous public pressure.

Result: Proposition 139 passedwith 61.7% of voters in favor and only 38.3% against.

What does the ballot measure propose? Amendment 79 would amend the Colorado Constitution to recognize the “right to abortion” and prohibit state or local governments from “denying, impeding, or discriminating against the exercise of that right.” It would also allow public insurance plans to provide coverage for abortions.

What is the law now? Abortion is currently legal in Colorado, but there is an existing ban on Medicaid coverage of abortion. Minors must also obtain parental permission before obtaining an abortion.

Result: Amendment 79 was adoptedColorado voting to protect access to abortion in the state constitution and lift a four-decade ban on using government money to pay for abortions. The vote was 60.9% for when The Associated Press named him.

Florida

What does the ballot measure propose? Amendment 4 proposes adding language to the Florida Constitution to ensure that the state cannot “prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the health of the patient.” The measure also explicitly states that it would do nothing to curtail the state’s authority to require parental notification before an abortion.

What is the law now? Currently, Florida prohibits abortion at six weeks of gestation, with exceptions for rape, incest and threats to the health of a pregnant person only up to 15 weeks. There are a number of additional restrictions on the books: The state requires in-person counseling, a 24-hour waiting period, and medically unnecessary ultrasounds before an abortion. Minors are required to notify their parents and obtain permission before terminating the pregnancy. Telemedicine abortion care and mail order abortion pills are both prohibited; the abortion pill can only be dispensed in person. Only doctors are allowed to perform abortions, and the state has a number of specific restrictions on abortion providers, or TRAP laws, as well.

Result: Amendment 4 faileddespite receiving support from 57% of voters. That’s because ballot measures require 60 percent support to pass in Florida — and also because Gov. Ron DeSantis waged an unprecedented, state-sponsored campaign to defeat the measure.

What does the ballot measure propose? Question 1 proposes amending the state constitution to guarantee Marylanders reproductive freedom, including “the ability to make decisions to prevent, continue, or terminate one’s own pregnancy.”

What is the law now? Abortion is legal in Maryland up to the point of fetal viability and, after that point, if there is a fetal abnormality or if continuing the pregnancy would endanger the life or health of the pregnant woman. Minors are required to notify their parent or guardian prior to the abortion.

Result: Question 1 was overwhelmingly approved by Maryland voters, with more than 70 percent of the state’s electorate voting yes. The result far exceeded the 50 percent majority needed to pass.

Missouri

What does the ballot measure propose? Amendment 3 proposes to amend the Missouri Constitution to recognize a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including “the right to make and make decisions about all matters related to reproductive health care, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion; care, miscarriage care and respectful conditions of birth.” Under the amendment, state lawmakers would be allowed to regulate abortion after the point of viability, but would be barred from enacting laws that would “deny, delay or restrict” care at any time if the physical or mental health or life of the pregnant person . is in danger.

What is the law now? Missouri has one of the most restrictive abortion bans anywhere in the country. Abortion is prohibited at all stages of pregnancy, without exception. Instead of an exception, the law says that anyone sued or charged criminally for having performed an abortion can offer an “affirmative defense” that the abortion in question was performed because of a “medical emergency” and that the intervention was necessary to to avoid death or substantial abortion. and irreversible bodily harm.

Result: Amendment 3 was adoptedMissouri voting to enshrine abortion in the state constitution, overturning the state’s near-total ban. He won 54 percent to 46 percent when The Associated Press called the race.

What does the ballot measure propose? The proposal would amend the Montana Constitution to guarantee the right to “take and make decisions about one’s own pregnancy, including the right to abortion,” through the point of fetal viability. The state would be empowered to regulate abortion after viability, except for abortions necessary “to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.”

What is the law now? Abortion is currently prohibited after fetal viability, around 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy, and Montana has a parental notification law.

Result: Voters were approved Amendment 128with over 57% voting in favor of protections.

Nebraska

What does the ballot measure propose? There are dueling measures on the ballot in Nebraska. Initiative 434backed by anti-abortion groups, would essentially preserve the current abortion ban in the state constitution, banning abortions after the first trimester except in cases of rape, incest or a medical emergency. Initiative 439on the other hand, it would amend the Nebraska Constitution to establish a “fundamental right to abortion until the viability of the fetus” and after that time, if necessary, to protect the life or health of the pregnant person.

What is the law now? Abortion is currently prohibited after 12 weeks in Nebraska and there is a 24-hour waiting period. Telemedicine abortion is also prohibited, and minors must obtain parental permission before abortion, among other restrictions.

Result: Initiative 434which sought to maintain the current ban, was approved by 55 percent of voters. Initiative 439which would have created a constitutional right of access to abortion, fell short; 48% of voters voted in favor of the measure, and 51% against.

What does the ballot measure propose? Question 6 proposes to amend the Nevada Constitution to recognize the right to abortion through fetal viability, while recognizing that the state has the authority to regulate abortion after that point, except when a health care provider deems it necessary to “protect life or health pregnant women. patient.”

What is the law now? Abortion is currently prohibited in Nevada after 24 weeks.

Result: A large majority of voters supported Question 6. The measure passed by more than 63 percent support.

What does the ballot measure propose? Proposition 1if passed, it would amend the New York Equal Protection Amendment to specify that New Yorkers cannot be denied rights based on their sex, “including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and care reproductive health. and autonomy.” (The law already protects against discrimination based on “race, color, creed or religion.”)

What is the law now? Abortion is currently prohibited in New York at 24 weeks of gestation or at the point of fetal viability.

Result: Proposition 1 was approved by voters by a wide margin, with more than two-thirds of the New York electorate voting yes.

South Dakota

What does the ballot measure propose? Amendment G would prohibit state government from regulating abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy, allow regulations “reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman” in the second trimester, and regulate or prohibit abortion in the third trimester unless it is necessary “to maintain the life and health of the pregnant woman”.

What is the law now? Abortion is currently prohibited in South Dakota at all stages of pregnancy. There is only one exception: if an abortion is necessary to save the life of a pregnant person.

Result: Amendment G it was defeated, with nearly 60% of voters voting against the proposal.