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Abortion policy ballot measures

From Ballotpedia

Voters have decided onabortion-related ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, abortion includes policies related to abortion access, procedure regulations, provider requirements, funding, and constitutional protections or restrictions. The topic is grouped within thesocial issue policy area.

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Upcoming ballot measures

See also:2026 ballot measures and2027 ballot measures

History of abortion ballot measures

See also:History of abortion ballot measures

Since the 1970s, abortion-related policies have been a topic for statewide ballot measures across the U.S.

From 1970 to 2024, there were 65 abortion-related ballot measures, and 44 (68%) of these had the support of organizations that described themselves as pro-life. Voters approved 12 (27%) and rejected 32 (73%) of these 44 ballot measures. The other 21 abortion-related ballot measures had the support of organizations that described themselves as pro-choice or pro-reproductive rights. Voters approved 15 (71%) and rejected six (29%).

BeforeRoe v. Wade in 1973, three abortion-related measures were on the ballot inMichigan,North Dakota, andWashington, and each was designed to allow abortion in its respective state.

The following table provides a scorecard on abortion-related ballot measures based on proposed policies or topics since 1970. You can view the complete listhere.

Abortion-related ballot measures by topic and outcome, 1970 - 2024
TopicTotalApprovedApproved (%)DefeatedDefeated (%)
Campaigns described as pro-choice/pro-reproductive rights211571.4%628.6%
 Constitutional rights141178.6%321.4%
 Laws to expand abortion6466.7%233.3%
 Allow public funding[1]2150.0%150.0%
Campaigns described as pro-life[2]441227.3%3272.7%
 Constitutional interpretation8450.0%450.0%
 Personhood amendments600.0%6100.0%
 Laws to regulate abortion10110.0%990.0%
 Prohibit public funding[2]11327.3%872.7%
 Parental notification9444.4%555.6%
 Practitioner requirements200.0%2100.0%

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

Years
States

2026

  1. Idaho Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act Initiative (2026) - Potential
  2. Missouri Amendment 3, Prohibit Abortion and Gender Transition Procedures for Minors Amendment (2026) - On the ballot
  3. Nebraska Establish Personhood of Preborn Children Amendment (2026) - Potential
  4. Nevada Question 6, Right to Abortion Initiative (2026) - On the ballot
  5. Virginia Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2026) - On the ballot

2024

  1. Arizona Proposition 139, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)Approved
  2. Colorado Amendment 79, Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative (2024)Approved
  3. Florida Amendment 4, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)Defeated
  4. Maryland Question 1, Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2024)Approved
  5. Missouri Amendment 3, Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative (2024)Approved
  6. Montana CI-128, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)Approved
  7. Nebraska Initiative 434, Prohibit Abortions After the First Trimester Amendment (2024)Approved
  8. Nebraska Initiative 439, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)Defeated
  9. Nevada Question 6, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)Approved
  10. New York Proposal 1, Equal Protection of Law Amendment (2024)Approved
  11. South Dakota Constitutional Amendment G, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)Defeated

2023

  1. Ohio Issue 1, Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative (2023)Approved

2022

  1. California Proposition 1, Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2022)Approved
  2. Kansas No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment (August 2022)Defeated
  3. Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2, No Right to Abortion in Constitution Amendment (2022)Defeated
  4. Michigan Proposal 3, Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative (2022)Approved
  5. Montana LR-131, Medical Care Requirements for Born-Alive Infants Measure (2022)Defeated
  6. Vermont Proposal 5, Right to Personal Reproductive Autonomy Amendment (2022)Approved

2020

  1. Colorado Proposition 115, 22-Week Abortion Ban Initiative (2020)Defeated
  2. Louisiana Amendment 1, No Right to Abortion in Constitution Amendment (2020)Approved

2018

  1. Alabama Amendment 2, State Abortion Policy Amendment (2018)Approved
  2. Oregon Measure 106, Ban Public Funds for Abortions Initiative (2018)Defeated
  3. West Virginia Amendment 1, No Right to Abortion in Constitution Measure (2018)Approved

2014

  1. Colorado Amendment 67, Definition of Person Initiative (2014)Defeated
  2. North Dakota Measure 1, Right to Life of Humans at Any Stage of Development Amendment (2014)Defeated
  3. Tennessee Amendment 1, No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment (2014)Approved

2012

  1. Florida Amendment 6, State Constitution Interpretation and Prohibit Public Funds for Abortions Amendment (2012)Defeated
  2. Montana LR-120, Parental Notification of Abortion Measure (2012)Approved

2011

  1. Mississippi Initiative 26, Definition of Person Amendment (2011)Defeated

2010

  1. Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Parental Notification of Abortion Initiative (August 2010)Approved
  2. Colorado Amendment 62, Definition of Person Amendment (2010)Defeated

2008

  1. California Proposition 4, Parental Notification of Abortion Initiative (2008)Defeated
  2. Colorado Amendment 48, Definition of Person Initiative (2008)Defeated
  3. South Dakota Initiative 11, Abortion Ban Measure (2008)Defeated

2006

  1. California Proposition 85, Parental Notification of Abortion Initiative (2006)Defeated
  2. Oregon Measure 43, Parental Notification of Abortion Initiative (2006)Defeated
  3. South Dakota Referendum 6, Abortion Ban Measure (2006)Defeated

2005

  1. California Proposition 73, Parental Notification of Abortion Initiative (2005)Defeated

2004

  1. Florida Amendment 1, Parental Notification of Abortion Measure (2004)Approved

2000

  1. Colorado Amendment 25, Informed Consent for Abortion Initiative (2000)Defeated

1999

  1. Maine Question 1, "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act" Initiative (1999)Defeated

1998

  1. Colorado Amendment 11, Prohibition on Partial-Birth Abortions Initiative (1998)Defeated
  2. Colorado Amendment 12, Parental Notification for Abortions Initiative (1998)Approved
  3. Washington Initiative 694, "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act" Measure (1998)Defeated

1994

  1. Wyoming Initiative 1, Abortion Ban Measure (1994)Defeated

1992

  1. Arizona Proposition 110, Abortion Ban and Prohibit Public Funds Initiative (1992)Defeated
  2. Maryland Question 6, Changes to Abortion Law Referendum (1992)Approved

1991

  1. Washington Initiative 120, Abortion Legal to Fetal Viability Measure (1991)Approved

1990

  1. Nevada Question 7, Abortion Legal to 24 Weeks Statute Referendum (1990)Approved
  2. Oregon Measure 10, Parental Notification of Abortion Initiative (1990)Defeated
  3. Oregon Measure 8, Abortion Ban Initiative (1990)Defeated

1988

  1. Arkansas Amendment 3, Prohibit Public Funds for Abortions and State Policy Initiative (1988)Approved
  2. Colorado Initiative 7, Repeal Prohibition on Public Funds for Abortions Amendment (1988)Defeated
  3. Michigan Proposal A, Prohibit Public Funds for Abortions for Public Assistance Recipients Referendum (1988)Approved

1986

  1. Arkansas Amendment 65, Prohibit Public Funds for Abortions and State Policy Initiative (1986)Defeated
  2. Arkansas Limitation on Public Funding for Abortion, Proposed Amendment 65 (1986)Defeated
  3. Massachusetts Question 1, No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment (1986)Defeated
  4. Oregon Measure 6, Prohibit Public Funds for Abortions Initiative (1986)Defeated
  5. Rhode Island Question 14, Constitutional Right to Life and Abortion Prohibited Amendment (1986)Defeated

1984

  1. Colorado Amendment 3, Prohibit Public Funds for Abortions Initiative (1984)Approved
  2. Washington Initiative 471, Prohibit Public Funds for Abortions Measure (1984)Defeated

1982

  1. Alaska Measure 6, Prohibit Public Funds for Abortions Initiative (1982)Defeated

1978

  1. Oregon Measure 7, Prohibit Public Funds for Abortions Initiative (1978)Defeated

1972

  1. Michigan Proposal B, Abortion Legalization to 20 Weeks Initiative (1972)Defeated
  2. North Dakota Measure 1, Abortion Legalization to 20 Weeks Initiative (1972)Defeated

1970

  1. Washington Referendum 20, Abortion Legalization to Four Months Measure (1970)Approved

See also

Ballot Measure Overview

State & Local Ballot Measures
Ballotpedia
Measures
  • • State ballot measures
  • • Local ballot measures
  • • Analyses
History
  • • Historical Ballot Measures (HBM) Factbooks
  • • History of ballot measures by topic
Campaigns
  • • Campaign finance
  • • Endorsements
  • • Polls

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Note: Ballotpedia classifiedColorado Amendment 79 (2024) as related to two topics for the purposes of this chart; the total number of campaigns described as pro-choice ballot measures is 21.
  2. ↑2.02.1Note: Ballotpedia classified two ballot measures,Arizona Proposition 110 (1992) andFlorida Amendment 6 (2012), as related to two topics for the purposes of this chart; the total number ofcampaigns described as pro-life ballot measures is 44.
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