2022 abortion-related ballot measures

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Abortion-related ballot measures in the U.S.
Pages:
• 2023 and 2024 abortion-related ballot measures
• 2022 abortion-related ballot measures
• History of abortion ballot measures
• Abortion on the ballot
• Abortion regulations by state


In 2022, there were six ballot measures addressing abortion — the most on record for a single year. Measures were approved in California, Michigan, and Vermont. Measures were defeated in Kansas, Kentucky, and Montana.

  • Voters approved ballot measures to establish state constitutional rights to abortion in California, Michigan, and Vermont.
  • In Kansas and Kentucky, voters rejected ballot measures to state that nothing in their state constitutions creates a right to abortion or requires government funding of abortions.
  • In Montana, voters rejected a measure called the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act.

Information on abortion-related ballot measures since 1970 is available here: History of abortion ballot measures.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • In 2022, there were six ballot measures addressing abortion — the most on record.
  • Voters in California, Michigan, and Vermont were the first to approve ballot measures to establish state constitutional rights to abortion. Votes on these ballot measures followed Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which held that the U.S. Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. These measures were also the first abortion-related ballot measures since 1992 to have the support of organizations that describe themselves as pro-choice/pro-reproductive rights.
  • Voters in Kansas rejected a measure to provide that the state constitution cannot be interpreted to establish a state constitutional right to abortion. On November 8, voters in Kentucky rejected a similar amendment. These types of amendments were designed to address previous and future state court rulings on abortion that have prevented or could prevent legislatures from passing certain abortion laws.

    • Overview

    On the ballot

    The following table provides a list of abortion-related measures that were on the ballot in 2022:

    State Date Measure Description Outcome
    Kansas Aug. 2 Amendment • Amend the Kansas Constitution to state that nothing in the state constitution creates a right to abortion or requires government funding of abortions
    • Declare that the state Legislature has to power to pass laws regarding abortion
    Defeatedd
    California Nov. 8 Proposition 1 • Amend the California Constitution to provide that the state cannot "deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions," including decisions to have an abortion or to choose or refuse contraceptives
    Approveda
    Kentucky Nov. 8 Amendment 2 • Amend the Kentucky Constitution to state that nothing in the state constitution creates a right to abortion or requires government funding of abortions
    Defeatedd
    Michigan Nov. 8 Proposal 3 • Amend the Michigan Constitution to provide a state constitutional right to reproductive freedom, defined to include abortion, contraception, and other matters related to pregnancy
    Approveda
    Montana Nov. 8 LR-131 • Provide in state law that infants born alive at any stage of development are legal persons
    • Require medical care to be provided to infants born alive after an induced labor, cesarean section, attempted abortion, or other method
    Defeatedd
    Vermont Nov. 8 Amendment • Amend the Vermont Constitution to provide a state constitutional right to personal reproductive autonomy
    Approveda

    Potential

    The following is a list of abortion-related measures that have been proposed for the ballot but have not been certified pending signature drives or final legislative votes.

    2023

    There are no remaining potential abortion-related ballot measures for 2023.

    2024

    1. Arizona Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
    2. Arkansas Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
    3. Colorado Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative (2024)
    4. Maine Right to Personal Reproductive Autonomy Amendment (2024)
    5. Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2024)
    6. Montana Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
    7. Nebraska Prohibit Abortion Procedures and Drugs Initiative (2024)
    8. Nebraska Prohibit Abortions After the First Trimester Amendment (2024)
    9. Nebraska Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
    10. Nevada Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2024)
    11. Pennsylvania No State Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment (2024)
    12. South Dakota Right to Abortion Amendment (2024)

    Not on the ballot

    The following is a list of abortion-related measures that were proposed for 2022 but did not make the ballot.

    1. Maryland Right to Reproductive Liberty Amendment (2022)
    2. Oklahoma Establish Rights of Unborn Persons Amendment (2022)
    3. Oklahoma No Right to Abortion in Constitution Amendment (2022)

    Context of the 2022 ballot measures

    See also: Timeline of abortion-related ballot measures

    The following graph shows the number of abortion-related ballot measures per year since 1970. Prior to 2022, the highest number of measures occurred in 1986.

    See also

    Footnotes

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