Two years ago, a landmark resolution guaranteed the right to abortion. Since then, multiple US states have passed abortion bans, resulting in tens of thousands of people losing access to local clinics.
Last week, seven states went to the polls in support of these measures. Missouri voters have successfully overturned their state’s restrictive voter registration laws, marking a significant step towards greater electoral access.
Despite some positive developments, a step backward was taken in the fight for reproductive rights as several states moved to restrict access to abortion. Questions linger about the impression left over from the previous administration under former President Donald Trump, who is poised to return to office in January.
The landmark Supreme Court ruling in 1973, Roe v. Wade, enshrined a constitutional right to abortion within the United States, guaranteeing the ability to terminate a pregnancy up until the point of fetal viability, typically considered to be around 24 weeks. The decision was ultimately overturned by the US Supreme Court’s docket in the summer of 2022.
In some U.S. states, clinics may not offer abortion services. Several US states introduced new measures to limit access to abortion clinics. Within a 100-day period, 66 out of 79 clinics across 15 states ceased offering abortion services, with 26 ultimately shutting down entirely due to.
The was intense. Abortion was a hot topic on the ballot this week, with voters in 10 states weighing in: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota. Seven council members voted in favor of legalizing abortion access.
In Maryland, abortion had long been legally permissible. Despite the introduction of novel measures. Since 2022, Arizona has prohibited abortions past the 15-week mark. There, voters have accepted a modification to the state’s structure that
As soon as the landmark Roe v. Wade decision was overturned by the Supreme Court, Missouri quickly enacted a sweeping abortion ban. The state’s present law prohibits doctors from performing abortions, with the exception being in cases of medical emergencies. The proposed legislation does not include any exemptions or carve-outs for cases of rape or incest. This week, the state has overturned its ban on abortion and ensured access to the procedure until fetal viability is reached.