On Tuesday, September 10th, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing voters to decide on a proposed amendment to the state constitution regarding abortion rights. This decision follows a long legal battle after Missouri’s 2022 “trigger law,” which banned abortion after the United States Supreme Court overturned the federal right to the procedure. Missouri voters will now weigh in on whether to restore abortion rights in the upcoming November election.
The amendment, known as Amendment 3, will allow abortion until fetal viability. Organizers gathered over 250,000 signatures to push the measure forward, and after a legal challenge from anti-abortion groups, the state’s highest court ruled that the measure should appear on the ballot. Anti-abortion advocates argue that the wording of the amendment misleads voters about the scope of its impact, including limiting the legislature’s power to regulate abortion.
Missouri currently enforces one of the strictest abortion bans in the U.S., allowing exceptions only for medical emergencies. The proposed measure, if passed, would significantly shift state policy, restoring access to abortion for the first time since the ban was implemented. A poll conducted by St. Louis University in August showed 52% of voters in favor of the amendment, indicating a tight race ahead.
The Missouri Supreme Court’s ruling comes just hours before the deadline for finalizing the November ballot. Abortion rights advocates, such as Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, have emphasized that the state’s current laws are overly restrictive, harming women’s access to healthcare. Meanwhile, opponents continue to express concern that the measure will weaken the state’s ability to regulate abortions.
Missouri joins eight other U.S. states set to vote on abortion-related measures in the 2024 elections, coinciding with the presidential election. The measure must gain at least 50% of the vote to pass. Advocates on both sides of the debate are preparing for a contentious campaign as the vote approaches.
