Voters in the state of Kansas, in the United States, decided to keep the right to abortion in the state constitution, deciding for the “no” in a proposal for a constitutional amendment on Tuesday (2), indicates a projection of the CNN .
It was the first popular vote on abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade in June.
The vote comes after a 2019 state Supreme Court decision concluded that the state constitution protects the right to abortion. A “yes” vote on the amendment would have removed the right from the state constitution, while a “no” vote retains it.
The proposal stated, “Because Kansas citizens value both women and children, the Kansas State Constitution does not require government funding for abortion and does not create or guarantee the right to abortion.”
Currently, abortion is legal for up to 22 weeks in Kansas, making the state a “paradise” for women seeking the procedure from nearby states that have revoked rights to the procedure.
“Pro-choice” organizations organized a widespread effort to win votes, seeing the race as a test of abortion policy in an era after the US Supreme Court ruling.
Tuesday’s victory represents a significant moment in the ever-changing struggle for the right to procedure, offering these groups relief just weeks after they suffered a crushing defeat by the Supreme Court.
In a statement, Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care, said the “victory is the result of a long-running campaign to motivate voters to protect bodily autonomy at the polls.”
“Kansas is one of the only states in the region that protects access to legal abortion, and following today’s vote, it will continue to be a critical hotspot,” the statement said.
Polls have consistently shown that the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is largely unpopular. A survey of CNN released in late July indicated that nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the ruling, with up to 55% of moderate or liberal Republicans against it. Tuesday’s results further reinforce that sentiment.
“This is more proof of what poll after poll tells us: Americans support the right to abortion,” said Christina Reynolds, a lead agent for Emily’s List, an organization that seeks to elect pro-abortion representatives. “They believe we should be able to make our own health decisions and will vote accordingly, even in the face of misleading campaigns.”
The victory of the “no” leaves the state constitution unchanged. While state lawmakers may still try to pass restrictive abortion laws, Kansas courts have recognized the right under the state constitution. Lawmakers passed a restrictive bill in 2015, permanently blocked by the courts.
Tuesday’s vote would not have banned abortion altogether, but it would have opened the door to banning the procedure, especially given that Republicans control both chambers of the state legislature and nearly every top office except governor, which is held. by Democrat Laura Kelly.
In addition to the victory, Democrats were excited about the significant turnout.
The issue was raised in the primary vote rather than the general election, which abortion rights advocates believe is intended to limit participation. Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats in the state by more than 350,000, according to the latest figures from the Kansas Secretary of State’s office.
But the victory — along with rising turnout — is yet another sign that abortion could be a motivator for voters in Republican states, a critical issue as Democrats approach what could be a difficult midterm election. of mandate.
Source: CNN Brasil
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