Abortion access remains after Missourians reject ballot proposal that would have imposed a ban

Voters reject Amendment 3

The Associated Press called the race against Amendment 3, which was placed on the ballot by Missouri’s Republican-led legislature. Its defeat maintains the state’s current abortion law and reaffirms the outcome of the 2024 vote.

The proposal would have prohibited abortion except in cases of rape or incest during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, or later when fetal anomalies were present. Under current law, abortion is allowed until fetal viability, though restrictions apply to how procedures are performed.

Campaign joined two issues

Many advertisements supporting Amendment 3 emphasized the proposed restrictions on gender-affirming care rather than abortion. Abortion-rights supporters called that approach misdirection; supporters of the proposal argued the care restrictions were popular with voters.

Republican state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said he viewed abortion as a much closer issue in Missouri than transgender medical procedures. He described the latter as having much broader public support, while also pointing to the 2024 vote on abortion.

Political and financial stakes

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and other prominent Republican leaders raised money and campaigned for the proposal. Its defeat was a major win for abortion-rights supporters and also signaled voter support for transgender rights.

The campaign committee opposing Amendment 3 received more than $26 million in donations of $5,000 or more since the start of the year. The campaign seeking to pass the ban raised around $6.7 million in large donations.

Missouri was one of four states with abortion on the ballot. Since the Supreme Court ended federal abortion protections in 2022, abortion laws have varied across states.