US to put referendum on abortion on the same ballot as the presidential election

Abortion rights are arguably the most important issue in America ahead of the presidential election on November 5. It affects 50 percent of the US population and is a matter of an individual’s fundamental freedom, protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. US Constitution.

During his tenure as president, Donald Trump reshaped the Supreme Court, which in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade, the federal guarantee of abortion access, leaving states to decide their own abortion policies — and thus Overturning five decades of precedent protecting abortion rights across the country. We.

Now, at least ten states in the US are holding referendums on the issue of abortion, and questions on it will appear on the same ballots that will be used to cast votes to elect the next US President.

This is the first US presidential election since a landmark Supreme Court decision banned or restricted abortion access across the US.

The outcome could have deep implications, with the potential to overturn restrictions affecting millions of women. Democrats also hope that this issue will mobilize a large portion of the voters in their favor.

In recent times, women in the US are being forced to cross state lines to terminate their life-threatening pregnancies. Kamala Harris has said, “This is a health care crisis and Donald Trump is its architect.”

Referendum

According to the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make any Law Or will not implement.” which would impair the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor subject any person within its jurisdiction to any violation of the laws would deny equal protection; ,

With the referendum taking place in November, each constitutional amendment would enshrine state-level reproductive rights, which were weakened by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that led to restrictions on abortion access.

The referendums are being held in Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota, among the states affected by the US Supreme Court decision making abortion restrictive.

So far, the other states that are holding votes on abortion rights are Colorado, Maryland, Montana, Nevada and New York.

What will this mean for these states

1. arizona – In the state of Arizona, which is a key swing state, abortion is currently limited to 15 weeks of pregnancy. Democrats hope the referendum will increase their chances of victory in this key battleground state. Proposition 139, which is almost certain to be adopted, would protect abortion up to the point of fetal viability.

2. Florida -It is the third most populous state of America. There is currently a ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy in the state. This is such a short period that women often become aware of their pregnancy only after this time. Voters will choose on Nov. 5 whether to extend that period to the point of fetal viability, which is about 24 weeks of pregnancy. The proposed amendment must receive 60 percent of the votes to pass. A recent poll indicates that 55 percent of Floridians support it, and 20 percent are “not sure.”

3. missouri – The midwestern state of Missouri has one of the strictest abortion restrictions in the United States, with no exceptions even for rape or incest. The referendum proposes to allow abortion as long as the fetus is viable in the traditionally Republican-leaning state.

4. nebraska – This is the state, abortion is legal up to 12 weeks. It is the only US state that will vote on two competing proposals. One would establish a “fundamental right” to abortion until the fetus is viable, while the other would ban it after the first trimester (13 weeks). The winning amendment will require 50 percent of the vote, and more votes than the competing initiative.

5. South Dakota – South Dakota, like Missouri, has a ban on abortion, allowing the procedure only to protect the life of the mother. Voters will now decide whether to reinstate abortion rights during the first trimester.

6. colorado – Colorado is one of a handful of states where abortion is legal without a gestational age limit. A citizen-led initiative now proposes to constitutionally protect the right to abortion in the Democratic-led state.

7. maryland – Maryland voters will decide whether to amend their Constitution to ensure the right to abortion until the fetus is viable.

8. Montana – Abortion is legal until fetal viability in Montana, a traditionally conservative state, despite legal efforts to restrict access, which have been blocked by judges. The proposed amendment would enshrine existing reproductive rights in the state constitution.

9. nevada – Voters in the western state of Nevada, where abortion is legal until fetal viability (24 weeks), will choose whether to include this right in the state constitution.

10. new york – Lawmakers in New York have introduced an amendment to further strengthen access to abortion, which is already legal until fetal viability, by adding anti-discrimination protections for reproductive health care.