A Missouri judge ruled that an abortion-rights campaign did not meet legal requirements to qualify for the November ballot, potentially halting efforts to undo the state’s near-total abortion ban. However, the measure remains on the ballot pending a last-minute appeal before Tuesday’s deadline. The campaign, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, plans to appeal the decision in hopes of allowing voters to decide on protecting reproductive freedom, including access to abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care.
The judge ruled that the campaign did not adequately inform voters during the signature-gathering process about the measure’s potential effects on the state’s abortion laws. The ruling has sparked a debate between supporters and opponents of the proposed amendment, with concerns raised about the potential impact on existing abortion laws in Missouri.
Other states are considering similar constitutional amendments enshrining abortion rights this fall, with voters in past elections supporting abortion-rights measures. Missouri’s near-total abortion ban was implemented following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, leading to a push by advocacy groups to legalize abortion in response to the ban.
The proposed amendment by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom would guarantee the right to abortion and other reproductive health decisions for individuals in the state. Despite the legal challenges, both supporters and opponents are committed to advocating for their positions as the issue of abortion rights continues to be a divisive and contentious topic in Missouri and across the country.
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