Missouri Voters Back Amendment to End Abortion Ban

Statewide vote overturns 2019 ban on abortion at eight weeks

Voters in Missouri have overwhelmingly backed a constitutional amendment that will overturn a ban on abortion at eight weeks and restore the right to the procedure up to 22 weeks.

With 99% of precincts reporting, the amendment had received 53% of the vote, while 47% voted against it. The result is a major victory for abortion rights advocates, who have been fighting to overturn the ban since it was passed by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2019.

The ban, which was one of the most restrictive in the country, had made it illegal to perform an abortion after eight weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest. It also required women seeking an abortion to undergo a mandatory waiting period and to receive counseling from a state-approved crisis pregnancy center.

The amendment, which was placed on the ballot by a coalition of abortion rights groups, will amend the state constitution to guarantee the right to abortion up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. It will also repeal the eight-week ban and the other restrictions that were imposed by the 2019 law.

The passage of the amendment is a major setback for anti-abortion groups, who have been working to restrict access to abortion in Missouri and other states. It is also a sign of the growing support for abortion rights in the United States, where a majority of Americans now support the right to abortion.

The amendment will take effect on December 8, 2022. It is expected to be challenged in court by anti-abortion groups, but it is likely to be upheld by the courts.