Amendment 3 legalizing abortion passes in Missouri
Nov 05, 2024
LIVE RESULTS
BACKGROUND
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri voters are making a crucial decision regarding the future of reproductive health care coverage and rights throughout the state.
On November 5, Missourians take to the polls and decide whether they believe Amendment 3, an initiative aimed at legalizing abortion, should be added to the state constitution.
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This topic has been widely debated across the state and the nation. The amendment itself was nearly taken off the ballot after a Cole County judge and the Republican Secretary of State, Jay Ashcroft, said that the measure did not meet the necessary legal requirements to continue into the general election.
However, on Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Missouri Supreme Court overturned the circuit court judge's ruling and claimed that the amendment's signature-gathering process was legally sound.
Now the initiative has made its way to the general election ballot box, and Missourians are voting on their beliefs regarding reproductive freedoms throughout the state. But before you head to the polls, here's everything you need to know about Amendment 3:
WHAT IS AMENDMENT 3?
Amendment 3 aims to rewrite the Missouri Constitution's restrictions on specific forms of reproductive health care. Specifically, its goal is to make abortion a constitutional freedom and to overturn Missouri's near-total ban on the procedure.
According to AP, the ballot measure would “create a right to abortion until a fetus could likely survive outside the womb without extraordinary medical measures.” It would also allow abortions after fetal viability (generally considered to be about 23 to 24 weeks into pregnancy) if a healthcare professional believes it is necessary to save the mother’s life, her mental health and her physical health.
Contrary to some beliefs, Amendment 3 does not discuss or protect gender reassignment surgeries or transitions for minors.
Faith leaders on different sides of abortion rights in Missouri
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022 was a pivotal point in reproductive health care for the country. This ruling took away the federal law that protected abortion, and instead, gave the power to the states.
Currently, the state of Missouri has made the act of performing or inducing an abortion a class B felony punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison. However, a woman undergoing an abortion cannot be prosecuted.
The state's ban also doesn't make exceptions for rape or incest.
According to AP, Missouri is joining at least a half-dozen other states that will have abortion-related rights added to the ballot in November. These states include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, South Dakota and Nevada.
WHAT DOES THE OFFICIAL BALLOT SAY?
"Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
establish a right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid;
remove Missouri’s ban on abortion;
allow regulation of reproductive health care to improve or maintain the health of the patient;
require the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding, and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care; and
allow abortion to be restricted or banned after Fetal Viability except to protect the life or health of the woman?
State governmental entities estimate no costs or savings, but unknown impact. Local governmental entities estimate costs of at least $51,000 annually in reduced tax revenues. Opponents estimate a potentially significant loss to state revenue."
FACT CHECK: Does Missouri’s Amendment 3 include transgender procedures?
In order for Amendment 3 to be added to the Missouri Constitution, it will need a simple majority vote in the general election.