Seven in ten Americans want to have their say on state-level abortion laws

Seven in ten Americans want Kansas-style abortion ballots in their own state, and Republicans are even keener to hold local votes than Democrats, says a new poll with major implications for the upcoming midterm elections.

Ipsos pollsters found that 70 percent of adults wanted state-level ballots on abortion. This included 73 percent of Democrats and a bigger share — 77 percent — of Republicans wishing to have their say in their state’s rules on abortion.

The poll of some 1,000 adults, conducted this past weekend, also found that, if voters could decide on abortion-related state ballot measures, 54 percent would allow procedures and 28 percent would oppose them.

In such a vote, however, supporters of the two main parties would be split. While 76 percent of Democrats would back legalized abortions, only 34 percent of Republicans would support the procedures.

‘With abortion no longer a constitutional right, Americans want their voice heard on the issue,’ said Mallory Newall, an Ipsos vice president.

The Supreme Court in June overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion and punted the issue to the states — some of which already had trigger laws in place to outlaw the procedures.

Kansas voters last week overwhelmingly rejected a state-level abortion ban, as voters elsewhere ready to vote in similar ballot measures, and as courts and lawmakers across the U.S. grapple with the realities of a post-Roe America. 

Wyoming judge Melissa Owens on Wednesday blocked the state’s near-total ban on abortion from taking effect, calling the law ‘discriminatory’ and suggesting that legal efforts to overturn it would succeed.

Virginia Brierley protests against restrictions on abortion in San Clemente, California, on August 6, 2022. Abortion access is already protected in California. Voters in November will decide whether to enshrine that right in the state’s constitution

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, a Republican, on Monday said he would not convene the state legislature for a special session on stricter abortion laws because Republican lawmakers did not have the votes to pass a ban.

Indiana’s legislature last week became the first in the U.S. to pass new legislation restricting access to abortions since the Supreme Court’s decision. It includes exceptions in cases of rape and incest and to protect the health of the mother. 

Republican voters in Wisconsin and Minnesota on Tuesday respectively nominated Tim Michels and Scott Jensen — two opponents of abortion — for governor of their states, ensuring the issue of terminations features in those races in November’s general election.

The nearly 20-point win by supporters of legal abortions in Kansas, a conservative state, was an indication that the Supreme Court decision was energizing Democrats and could hurt Republicans in November’s midterm elections.

Even voters in many rural, conservative areas of Kansas voted for legal abortions, in what was a big victory for pro-choice groups after weeks in which many southern and Midwest states restricted or banned the procedure.

In the coming months, voters in Montana, Kentucky, California and elsewhere will have a chance to weigh in on abortions, and the issue is likely to impact House, Senate and governor races across the U.S.

Some 55 percent of voters say access to abortions is ‘very important’ to how they will vote in November, according to recent polling by KFF, a health policy group, higher than in previous surveys.

In the coming months, voters in Montana, Kentucky and elsewhere can weigh in on abortions, after the Supreme Court in June ruled there was no constitutional right to abortion and punted the issue to the states

After Kansas, voters elsewhere have their say on abortion: 

Kentucky: Access to abortions in Kentucky ended after the Supreme Court’s decision set off a pre-existing trigger law. In November, voters will decide whether to add language similar to Kansas’ to its state constitution. Some 57 percent of Kentucky voters reject abortions, against 36 percent supporting the procedure, says Pew Research Center polling.

Vermont: Access to abortions is already protected in Vermont. Voters will in November decide whether to add abortion rights to the state constitution. It is expected to pass: 70 percent of Vermonters support abortion access, compared to 26 percent against, Pew says.

California: Abortion access is already protected in California. Voters in November will decide whether to enshrine that right in the state’s constitution. It is expected to pass: 57 percent of voters support abortion rights there, with 38 percent against, says Pew.

Pro-choice advocates cheered in Kansas as voters shut down a possible pathway to a total ban on abortions in the state

Montana: Voters will decide in November whether infants who are ‘born alive’ are legal persons and are entitled to medical care, including those born alive after botched terminations. Some 56 percent of Montanans support abortion rights, versus 38 percent who want it outlawed, according to Pew.

Michigan: Pro-choice campaigners are collecting signatures in the hope of letting voters decide on state abortion rules in November. Voters there are split 54 percent behind abortion access versus 42 percent against, says Pew. The issue will also feature in the race for the governor, with pro-choice Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer defending against Tudor Dixon, a staunchly pro-life Republican.

Colorado: Abortion is protected under state law in Colorado, but activists are pushing for a ballot initiative to be added in November to let voters decide on outlawing the ‘murder of a child’, with carve-outs to save the life of a mother. Some 59 percent of Colorado voters support access to abortions, with 36 percent against, Pew says.

Ohio: Republicans dominate state politics and are pushing for a ban on abortions. Democrats seek to collect enough signatures to put the issue before voters, but that is not likely to happen until at least 2023. It’s a close-call state, with 48 percent in supporting abortion access and 47 percent against, says Pew.

Arizona: Campaigners failed to collect enough signatures to put an abortion access question to voters in November. Though they missed the deadline, they aim to try again for 2024. It’s another close-call state, with 49 percent backing abortion access and 46 percent against, Pew says.

New York, Washington, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Nevada and South Dakota are also gearing up to hold their own ballot measures on abortion, with votes scheduled in 2023 and 2024.