Voters to Decide on Abortion Measures in Four States

Why it matters locally: While California is not one of the four states with abortion-related ballot measures this November, the national trend of states addressing abortion rights through direct voter initiatives could influence future political discourse and legislative strategies within California regarding reproductive healthcare.

Four states will present abortion-related ballot measures to voters in November. These initiatives follow the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in *Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization*. That ruling concluded that the U.S. Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, returning the authority to regulate abortion to individual states. In Missouri, a proposed amendment addresses abortion protections within the state constitution. Kelly McCoomb, a resident of Maplewood, Missouri, displayed a yard sign in 2024 supporting a 'yes' vote on Amendment 3, an initiative to add abortion protections. For the 2026 election, her altered sign indicates a 'no' vote on Amendment 3 would be necessary to maintain those protections, reflecting changes in the proposed language of the amendment over time. The ballot measures vary by state. Voters will consider proposals that range from codifying abortion access to implementing restrictions.