Montana becomes latest state to put abortion rights on the ballot – here are the rest
Montana voters will have the chance to weigh in on whether abortion rights should be enshrined in the state’s constitution in November, making it the ninth state to put the issue of abortion directly in the hands of residents.
On Tuesday, the Montana Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that the general election ballot would include an abortion rights measure, which will ask residents if the state should enshrine a state Supreme Court ruling that protects the right to abortion up to the point of viability (24 weeks).
Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights, a coalition of abortion rights advocates including the ACLU Montana, Planned Parenthood of Montana, Forward Montana and the Fairness Project had submitted 117,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office in support of the measure. That is nearly double the 60,039 required.
Here are the other states where abortion will be on the ballot.
The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office confirmed on August 12 that Proposition 139 will be on the November ballot.
The measure will ask voters if the state should establish a fundamental right to abortion in the Arizona Constitution. It would prohibit the state from outlawing abortion before the point of fetal viability – around 24 weeks – and allow for abortion after that point so long as a physician determines it is necessary to protect the health of a pregnant person.
Abortion is currently banned in the state after 15 weeks.
On May 17, the Colorado Secretary of State’s office announced that voters will vote on Initiative 89 in November.
The measure would enshrine the right to abortion in the state’s consitution as well as prohibit state and local governments from impeding the ability to access abortion even through health care