WASHINGTON (AP) — Missouri voters cleared the way to overturn one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bans in one of seven victories for abortion rights advocates, while Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota defeated amendments similar constitutional provisions, leaving the prohibitions in force.

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Abortion rights amendments have also passed in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland and Montana. Nevada voters also approved an amendment, but will have to pass it again in 2026 for it to take effect. Another banning discrimination based on “pregnancy results” prevailed in New York.

The results include firsts for the abortion landscape, which underwent a seismic shift in 2022 when the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a ruling that ended abortion rights nationwide and paved the way for bans to enter force in the majority controlled by Republicans. states.

They also came in the same election in which Republican Donald Trump won the presidency. Among his inconsistent positions on abortion was his insistence that it was an issue better left to the states. However, the president can have a major impact on abortion policy through executive action.

Meanwhile, Missouri is poised to be the first state to vote to overturn a ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with an amendment that would allow lawmakers to restrict abortions only beyond the point of fetal viability — usually considered after 21 weeks , although there is no precisely defined time frame.

But prohibition and other restrictive laws are not automatically repealed. Advocates must now ask the courts to strike down the laws consistent with the new amendment.

“Today, Missourians made history and sent a clear message: Pregnancy decisions, including abortion, birth control and miscarriage care, are personal and private and should be left up to patients and their families, not politicians.” , Rachel Sweet, campaign manager at Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, said in a statement.

About half of Missouri voters said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to AP VoteCast, a poll of more than 2,200 state voters. But only about 1 in 10 said abortion should be illegal in all cases; nearly 4 in 10 said abortion should be illegal in most cases.

Bans remain in place in three states after the votes

Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota became the first states since Roe was overturned in which abortion opponents prevailed on the ballot. A majority of voters supported the Florida measure, but it fell short of the 60 percent needed to pass constitutional amendments in the state. Most states require a simple majority.

The result was a political victory for Gov. Ron DeSantis, a nationally profiled Republican who directed state GOP funds to the cause. His administration also weighed in with a campaign against the measure, with investigators questioning people who signed petitions to add it to the ballot and threats against television stations that aired an ad supporting it.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, said in a statement that the result was “an important victory for life in Florida and for our entire country,” praising DeSantis for leading the charge against measure.

The defeat makes a permanent change in the abortion landscape in the South that began when the six-week ban went into effect in May. This eliminated Florida as an abortion destination for many women from nearby states with deeper bans, and also resulted in many more women in the state traveling to obtain abortions. The closest states with tighter restrictions are North Carolina and Virginia — hundreds of miles away.

“The reality is that because of the Florida constitution, a minority of Florida voters decided that Amendment 4 was not going to pass,” said Lauren Brenzel, campaign director for the Yes on 4 campaign, wiping away tears. “The reality is that a majority of Floridians just voted to end Florida’s abortion ban.”

In South Dakota, another state with a ban on abortion throughout pregnancy, with some exceptions, the defeat of an abortion measure was more decisive. It would have allowed some regulations related to women’s health after 12 weeks. Because of this wrinkle, most national abortion rights groups did not support it.

Nebraska voters passed a measure allowing more abortion restrictions and enshrining the state’s current 12-week ban, and rejected a competing measure that would have ensured abortion rights.

Other states have guaranteed abortion rights

The Arizona amendment will replace the current law that prohibits abortion after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. The new measure ensures access to abortion until viability. A ballot measure there gained momentum after a state Supreme Court decision in April found that the state could enforce a strict abortion ban passed in 1864. Some GOP lawmakers have joined with Democrats to repeal the law before it could be applied.

In Maryland, the abortion rights amendment is a legal change that won’t make an immediate difference to abortion access in a state that already allows it.

It’s a similar situation in Missouri, where abortion is already legal until viability.

The Colorado measure passed the 55 percent support needed to pass. In addition to enshrining access, it also repeals an earlier amendment that barred the use of state and local government funding for abortion, opening up the possibility for state Medicaid and government employee insurance plans to cover the care.

READ MORE: Colorado voters approve constitutional amendment protecting abortion

An equal rights law in New York was also passed, which the abortion rights group says will strengthen abortion rights. It does not contain the word “abortion,” but rather prohibits discrimination based on “pregnancy outcomes, reproductive health care, and autonomy.” Sasha Ahuja, campaign director of New Yorkers for Equal Rights, called the result “a monumental victory for all New Yorkers” and a vote against opponents who she says used misleading parental rights and anti-trans messages to defeat the measure.

The results cap a string of victories for abortion rights advocates

As of Tuesday, abortion rights advocates have prevailed on all seven measures that have appeared on statewide ballots since Roe’s fall.

Abortion rights campaigns have a big fundraising advantage this year. Their opponents’ efforts are focused on portraying the amendments as too extreme, rather than abortion as immoral.

Currently, 13 states enforce bans at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions. Four more abortions, in most cases after about six weeks of pregnancy – before women often realize they are pregnant. Despite the bans, the number of monthly abortions in the US has increased slightly, due to increased use of the abortion pill and organized efforts to help women travel for abortions. Still, advocates say the bans have reduced access, especially for lower-income and minority residents of states with bans.

The issue resonates with voters. About a quarter said abortion policy was the most important factor in their vote, according to AP VoteCast, a broad survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide. Almost half said it was an important factor, but not the most important. Just over 1 in 10 said it was a minor factor.

The results of ballot initiatives that sought to overturn strict abortion bans in Florida and Missouri were very important to most voters in the states. More than half of Florida voters identified the amendment’s outcome as very important, while about 6 in 10 Missouri voters said the same, the poll found.

Associated Press reporters Hannah Fingerhut and Amanda Seitz contributed to this article.

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