Abortion-related ballot initiatives swung heavily in favor of pro-abortion groups during the 2022 elections. Pro-life initiatives failed, while pro-abortion ones were passed. Some pro-abortion initiatives endanger the lives of the preborn more than Roe v. Wade did. Any initiative that creates a legal right to abortion prevents the state from restricting abortion even after the child has reached the age of viability.
Anthony Romero, the executive director of the ACLU, told NPR that the group is considering several states for ballot initiatives, including Ohio and Florida. The ACLU also said that partners in at least a dozen states have reached out to discuss similar campaigns.
Activists are discussing initiatives in many states. Between reports from PewTrust.org, NPR, and CBS, LiveAction compiled a list of states that could see pro-abortion initiatives hit ballots by 2024. These include Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
To pass pro-abortion measures and defeat pro-life ones during the 2022 election, pro-abortion groups often deceived voters by insinuating that pro-life measures negatively impact the care doctors could provide mothers in the event of pregnancy complications or miscarriages. Pro-life advocates will need to counteract this messaging if they wish to prevent the complete legalization of abortion through ballot measures.
