Missouri Abortion Law: Who Voted For It?

Missouri's top court ruled that a proposed abortion rights amendment will appear on the ballot in November, allowing voters to decide whether to restore legal abortion in the state for the first time in over two years. The Missouri Supreme Court's decision came after a lower court ruling to remove the amendment following a lawsuit from anti-abortion groups. The amendment, known as Amendment 3, would enshrine reproductive freedom in the state constitution, effectively nullifying the state's current abortion ban outside of specific medical emergencies. The ballot measure has sparked intense debate, with abortion opponents launching a last-minute campaign to undermine support, while others celebrate the opportunity for Missourians to directly shape their future.

Missouri Supreme Court voted 4-3 to keep abortion on the ballot

On September 10, 2024, the Missouri Supreme Court voted 4-3 to keep abortion on the ballot for the November 5 election. The court's decision came just hours before the constitutional deadline to remove a question from the ballot.

The Missouri Supreme Court heard a case on September 10, 2024, in Jefferson City, to decide whether an amendment to overturn the state's abortion ban would remain on the ballot. The court's judges were Kelly C. Broniec, Robin Ransom, W. Brent Powell, Chief Justice Mary R. Russell, Zel. M. Fischer, Paul C. Wilson, and Ginger K. Gooch.

The majority opinion was written by Judge Paul Wilson, with Chief Justice Mary Russell, Judge Robin Ransom, and Judge Brent Powell concurring. The dissent was authored by Judge Kelly Broniec, with Judge Zel Fischer and Judge Ginger Gooch concurring in the dissent.

The amendment in question, known as Amendment 3, would prohibit the General Assembly from banning abortion until fetal viability. It would also protect other reproductive rights, including birth control. Abortion is currently illegal in Missouri, with limited exceptions for medical emergencies, and there are no exceptions for victims of rape or incest.

The legal dispute centred on whether the amendment sufficiently described what laws it would repeal, a requirement for ballot measures. Abortion opponents argued that it did not, while abortion rights supporters said that opponents were misreading the requirement.

The Missouri Supreme Court's decision to keep abortion on the ballot was a narrow one, and the court itself was divided on the issue. However, both the majority and dissenting opinions agreed on one thing: "This case is not about abortion."

Missouri's top court ruled to allow a vote on abortion rights

Missouri's top court ruled on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, that a proposed abortion rights amendment to the state constitution will appear on the ballot in November. The decision will allow voters to decide whether to restore legal abortion in Missouri for the first time in more than two years.

The Missouri Supreme Court's ruling reversed a lower court's decision to remove the amendment following a lawsuit from anti-abortion groups. The amendment, known as Amendment 3, offers to protect the right to abortion in Missouri until foetal viability. It gathered over 250,000 petition signatures and was verified by the secretary of state's office last month.

The Missouri Supreme Court's decision came just hours before the deadline to amend the general election ballot. The court ordered Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to "take all steps necessary" to ensure that Amendment 3 is on the ballot.

Amendment 3, if approved by a simple majority, would legalize abortion up until the point of foetal viability and protect other reproductive rights, including birth control. Abortion is currently illegal in Missouri, with limited exceptions for medical emergencies, and there are no exceptions for victims of rape or incest.

The lawsuit against Amendment 3 was filed by the Thomas More Society, who argued that the amendment's wording would mislead voters about its impact on the state legislature's ability to regulate abortion. However, the Missouri Supreme Court's ruling stated that interpreting the law to require listing every possible provision that could be impacted by an amendment would have "absurd effects."

The fight over Amendment 3 in Missouri reflects a broader national debate around abortion rights and the role of government in regulating reproductive health care.

Abortion opponents pour money into campaigns to undermine support

Abortion opponents in Missouri have been pouring money into campaigns to undermine support for abortion rights. The state has seen a surge of corporate campaign donations from anti-abortion lawmakers, with some of the most prominent corporations in the country contributing significant sums to these campaigns. This influx of corporate funding has been a significant factor in shaping the abortion debate in Missouri and has led to a highly organized and well-funded opposition movement.

The anti-abortion campaign in Missouri has been characterized by a strategic allocation of resources, with a significant portion of the funding going towards overhead and consulting services. This strategy is evident in the retention of multiple outside consulting, polling, and fundraising firms by the campaign group "Missouri Stands with Women." This group has been a leading force in the opposition to the "Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative," also known as Amendment 3, which aims to enshrine reproductive freedom in the state constitution.

The corporate funding behind the anti-abortion movement in Missouri is not limited to a single source. A diverse range of industries, including retailers, communications and technology companies, food and beverage corporations, healthcare and insurance providers, energy companies, transportation businesses, and banks, have all contributed substantial amounts to anti-abortion candidates and initiatives in the state. This broad support from various economic sectors has provided a stable financial foundation for the opposition campaigns.

The impact of corporate money in politics is significant, and it has played a crucial role in shaping the abortion debate in Missouri. With well-funded campaigns and strategic resource allocation, abortion opponents have been able to effectively spread their message, influence public opinion, and gain political influence. This has resulted in a highly contested and divisive issue that continues to be a subject of intense debate and legal battles in the state.

The corporate funding of anti-abortion campaigns in Missouri highlights the intersection of business interests and social issues. While corporations may have various motivations for their involvement, the financial support they provide has undoubtedly contributed to the success of these campaigns in restricting abortion access and shaping reproductive rights in the state.

Missouri's abortion law bans nearly all abortions except in medical emergencies

The Missouri abortion law is one of the strictest in the country and has been in place for over two years. However, there is an upcoming vote on a proposed amendment that could change this. The amendment, known as Amendment 3, would enshrine reproductive freedom in the state constitution, allowing abortions before foetal viability (typically around 24 weeks) and protecting other reproductive rights such as access to birth control and in vitro fertilisation.

The vote on Amendment 3 will take place on November 5, 2024, and it has already survived several legal challenges. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled 4-3 to keep the amendment on the ballot, and it will now go before voters. The amendment needs support from at least 50% of voters to pass, and recent polls show that it is likely to be approved, with 52% in favour and 34% opposed.

However, abortion opponents in Missouri are not giving up. They have launched a last-minute campaign to undermine support for the amendment, including billboards and radio ads that spread misinformation and attempt to confuse voters by combining the abortion issue with opposition to gender-affirming medical care for minors, which is already illegal in the state. The opponents of the amendment include conservative politicians and anti-abortion groups, who are prepared to shift their efforts to the state legislature if they lose at the ballot box.

Missouri voters tend to elect conservative leaders

The Missouri Supreme Court recently ruled that a proposed amendment to restore abortion rights in the state will appear on the ballot in November 2024. This decision came after a lawsuit from anti-abortion groups, who argued that the amendment failed to list what existing laws would be repealed if passed. The amendment, known as Amendment 3, would enshrine reproductive freedom in the state constitution, allowing abortion up until foetal viability and protecting other reproductive rights such as access to birth control.

The Missouri Supreme Court's ruling to keep Amendment 3 on the ballot was made by a narrow margin of 4-3, with dissenting judges arguing that the amendment's wording would "absolutely mislead" voters about its impact on the state legislature's ability to regulate abortion.

While Missouri voters tend to support conservative leaders and principles, there is evidence that they also support progressive ballot measures that focus on issues of government interference. This dynamic has played out in recent years, with voters approving amendments that run counter to the priorities of the conservative legislative majority. For example, voters approved the Clean Missouri initiative in 2018, which aimed to reform legislative redistricting, only to see it partially undone by conservative lawmakers in 2020 through the addition of ballot candy—politically charged language on unrelated issues designed to appeal to voters.

The outcome of the vote on Amendment 3 remains to be seen, but it has sparked intense debate and legal challenges. While abortion rights advocates argue that the amendment is narrowly focused on reproductive freedom, opponents have launched a misinformation campaign, including billboards and radio ads, to confuse voters and undermine support.

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