What questions do you have about Missouri’s upcoming vote on abortion amendment?
Abortion rights are among the most contentious political issues in the U.S. today, and Missouri is no exception. In 2022, the state was the first in the nation to enact a trigger ban on the procedure after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal right to abortion access.
Since then, reproductive rights advocates have been working to get abortion on the ballot in Missouri. They collected signatures from more than 380,000 registered voters in the state in preparation for the 2024 general election — more than double the roughly 171,000 required to put an amendment to Missouri’s constitution on the ballot. On Aug. 13, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft certified the campaign’s signature petition.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Missouri voters will decide whether to enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution, overturning the 2022 ban and preventing future bans on reproductive health care.
Here’s the full text of Amendment 3:
“Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
establish a right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid;
remove Missouri’s ban on abortion;
allow regulation of reproductive health care to improve or maintain the health of the patient;
require the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding, and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care; and
allow abortion to be restricted or banned after Fetal Viability except to protect the life or health of the woman?
State governmental entities estimate no costs or savings, but unknown impact. Local governmental entities estimate costs of at least $51,000 annually in reduced tax revenues. Opponents estimate a potentially significant loss to state revenue.”
In the month following Ashcroft’s certification, abortion opponents mounted a legal challenge to the amendment, arguing that it doesn’t spell out explicitly enough what Missouri laws it will repeal. However, the Missouri Supreme Court struck down the challenge Sept. 10.
Ahead of the November vote, The Star wants to help Missouri voters get informed. You can send us any questions you have about the abortion amendment or other aspects of voting in 2024.
Submit your questions via this form or email them to kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
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