Missouri’s nearly complete abortion ban might make a comeback if voters approve a new ballot measure recently passed by the state legislature.
The Missouri Senate, led by the GOP, approved a proposed constitutional amendment on Thursday aimed at overturning previous amendments that voters had approved just last year, which provided legal protections for abortion. Democrats made an attempt to act on this on Wednesday, but Republicans plan to leverage procedural rules to counter them, according to reports.
This amendment, already passed in the Republican-controlled House last month, will be included on the ballot during the 2026 general election. However, if the state’s Republican governor opts to call a special election, the vote on this amendment could occur sooner.
Comments from Senate Democrats suggest they view this move as undermining voter rights, saying it threatens the rights established only six months ago.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, many Republican-led states swiftly implemented stricter abortion laws. Missouri was a frontrunner, enacting a ban that made abortions illegal unless the mother’s life was in danger.
A citizen-led amendment passed in November 2023, which narrowly repealed the state’s trigger law regarding abortion protections.
Missouri Republicans assert that the new ballot measure explicitly states it will undo the amendments that aimed to protect abortion rights, yet this effort has faced opposition.
If the latest proposals by Republican lawmakers pass, they may allow for exceptions in cases of rape and incest.
