Janice R. Andrews
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade 18 months ago, a coalition of reproductive-rights organisations in Missouri launched a campaign on Thursday to put a right to abortion in the state constitution. This represents a significant challenge to the public’s support for legalised abortion.
Missouri is notable for being the first state to formally prohibit abortion following the Roe ruling. Should this ballot effort succeed, Missouri might become the first state where a citizen-led initiative overturns a nearly complete ban on abortion.
Since Roe was overturned, proponents of abortion rights have won seven ballot initiatives, and this year, comparable campaigns are taking place in about ten more states. But in Missouri, they face a challenging timeframe, strong resistance from the state legislature, which is controlled by Republicans, and a long history of politics that are opposed to abortion.
On Thursday, the ballot proposal that had been the subject of internal advocacy group disputes and court challenges was unveiled as a united front. The coalition contends that Missouri’s abortion laws are driving out obstetricians and maternity clinics and endangering women who are experiencing pregnancy difficulties.
Proposing to modify the state constitution to provide a “right to make and carry out” decisions on reproductive health care, including abortion, the ballot issue is similar to those that were carried in Ohio and Michigan. However, unless a medical professional determines that it is necessary to protect the pregnant woman’s life, mental health, or physical health, it permits the state to prohibit abortion beyond viability (about 24 weeks).
The plan has to gather roughly 172,000 signatures by the beginning of May in order to be eligible for the ballot. If the initiative passes, Governor Mike Parson, a Republican who opposes abortion rights, would decide when to put it before voters—during this summer’s primary or the general election in November.
On Wednesday, anti-abortion organisations began their own campaign to resist any legislation that would make abortion legal. Recent polling indicates that a bill containing a viability restriction may succeed, which gives the abortion-rights alliance hope that they might capitalise on the state’s libertarian leanings.
The environment in Missouri, a state with a sizable evangelical Christian population and outspoken opponents of abortion, presents difficulties for the project. Notwithstanding the obstacles, proponents intend to capitalise on libertarian attitudes in the state and persuade voters that the government shouldn’t be involved in healthcare issues.
Despite initial concerns about a viability restriction, Planned Parenthood joined the alliance endorsing the project. According to Planned Parenthood Great Plains Chief Medical Officer Dr. Iman Alsaden, “Today, Missourians are taking a critical step to make their own medical decisions and kick politicians out of the exam room.”
About ten additional states are pursuing ballot proposals similar to this one, with differing degrees of success and opposition. The Missouri decision may establish a standard for the national discussion of abortion rights.
