I apologize for the inclusion of the phrase. Here is the revised version:
A coalition of abortion rights groups in Missouri is leading a signature drive to include a state constitutional amendment on the November ballot. The aim is to protect abortion access up to fetal viability, typically occurring around 22-25 weeks of pregnancy. Trigger laws implemented after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections in June 2022 had banned or severely restricted abortion access in several states, including Missouri. Under Missouri’s trigger law, the procedure is prohibited except in cases where the life of the pregnant person is at risk. However, even in cases where exceptions apply, many providers are reluctant to perform abortions due to the risk of violating state laws. Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, a cooperative effort by various groups including the ACLU of Missouri and Planned Parenthood, is seeking to place the proposed amendment on the ballot. The amendment would safeguard the right to an abortion in the state until the point of fetal viability and require the state to regulate the procedure using the least restrictive means. To get the initiative on the ballot, the coalition must gather signatures totaling 5 percent of the last gubernatorial election in two-thirds of the state’s congressional districts, which amounts to approximately 171,000 names distributed across at least six of the eight districts. Polling conducted in the summer of 2022 indicated that 50 percent of Missourians disagreed with the Supreme Court’s ruling, while 47 percent supported it. The initiative in Missouri could be more closely contested than in other states where abortion rights initiatives have found success or measures restricting abortion rights have been defeated. The signature collection process will conclude in early May.
Missouri has become a battleground for abortion rights, with supporters of the initiative arguing that the state’s ban on abortion is preventing necessary care. Iman Alsaden, Chief Medical Officer for Planned Parenthood Great Plains and an adviser to the coalition, emphasized the importance of Missourians making their own medical decisions and removing politicians from the examination room. The initiative seeks to reinstate Missourians’ ability to make decisions about their reproductive health care in consultation with their families and healthcare providers.
The success of the initiative in Missouri remains uncertain. Recent polling indicated that 48 percent of residents would support a ballot initiative to legalize abortion again in the state, while 40 percent would oppose it. Thirteen percent of respondents were undecided. While the race could be tightly contested, the coalition is determined to gather the necessary signatures and provide voters with the opportunity to support abortion rights in Missouri.
The signature drive is a critical step toward potentially overturning Missouri’s abortion ban, ensuring that individuals and their families have the autonomy to make decisions regarding their reproductive health. The proposed amendment’s language aims to safeguard the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, encompassing a range of reproductive health care decisions, including abortion, in Missouri. With the deadline for signature submission in early May, the Coalition for Constitutional Freedom will be working diligently to gather the necessary support to include the amendment on the November ballot.
