Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota Reject Abortion Rights Measures
States Buck National Trend by Denying Abortion Rights Proposals
On Tuesday, while many states approved referendums expanding abortion rights, voters in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota rejected such measures.
This marks the first significant victories for anti-abortion advocates since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision that ended the constitutional right to the procedure.
Florida's proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion rights fell short of the required 60% threshold, receiving only 57% approval according to Edison Research.
Consequently, the state's ban on abortions after six weeks, enacted in May, will remain in effect.
In Nebraska, voters approved the current 12-week ban with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother, while rejecting a measure to add abortion access rights to the state constitution as projected by the Associated Press.
South Dakota voters also rejected an amendment to guarantee abortion rights, where the procedure remains largely banned.
Meanwhile, projections indicated that abortion rights measures would succeed in states like Arizona, Missouri, Nevada, and others.
Missouri especially marked a significant outcome, where voters supported a constitutional amendment ensuring abortion rights through fetal viability despite a current total abortion ban.
Nationally, Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party pushed for these measures, while Republicans led by former President Donald Trump opposed them.
Trump, a Florida resident, ultimately stated his opposition to Florida's failed amendment.