More than two years after the overturning of Roe v. Wade ended the federal constitutional right to an abortion, voters in 10 states cast ballots on 11 abortion-related measures during Tuesday’s 2024 election.
Abortion rights passed in New York State, Missouri, Maryland, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, and Nevada. Three states—Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota—voted to keep their respective bans in place.
Here’s a roundup of how each state voted and what was at stake:
States that voted yes
Voters in Missouri succeeded in overturning their state’s ban on abortion. This amendment to the state constitution establishes the right to reproductive rights without government interference.
Nevada voted to amend the state constitution, establishing the fundamental right to an abortion until fetal viability or when it’s needed to protect the health of the pregnant person. Fetal viability is estimated to be around 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Even though the initiative passed, it will need to be voted on again, and passed, in 2026’s midterms, in order to take effect.
In Arizona, citizens voted to amend the current law banning abortion after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. The amendment will prevent the state from interfering before fetal viability.
Abortion rights are already legal in Maryland, but voters there decided to formally enshrine the existing rights.
Similarly, in Montana, abortion is already legal up to viability. The amendment will enshrine these rights as well prohibiting the punishment of doctors and patients.
Colorado exceeded the needed 55% of votes to enshrine abortion rights. This amendment also opens the door for the potential of state Medicaid and government employee insurance plans to cover abortions.
In New York, an equal rights law passed. It doesn’t explicitly use the word “abortion,” but it states that a person’s rights cannot be denied due to “pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”
States that voted no
A ballot initiative in Florida failed to secure the 60% of votes necessary to enshrine the right to an abortion up to the point of fetal viability. According to the New York Times, Florida was just 3% away from the amendment passing.
South Dakota, a state where abortion is not even protected for pregnant survivors of incest and rape, voted against a measure to guarantee the constitutional right to an abortion during the first and second trimester, with regulations.
In Nebraska, two conflicting petition efforts made the ballot. Nebraska citizens voted to pass the amendment for the 12-week abortion ban, but rejected the proposal to allow abortion until viability.