Nebraska Adds Abortion Measures to November Ballots: What Do They Propose

Post by: Omar Nasser

Photo : AP

Nebraska is set to have two competing abortion measures on its November ballot after election officials confirmed that both sides collected enough signatures. This marks the first instance of such a dual ballot in the U.S. since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, setting off a nationwide debate over abortion rights.

The measures in Nebraska include:

1. One measure aims to enshrine in the state constitution the right to access abortion until viability, or later if necessary for the health of the pregnant woman. This would protect broader abortion rights in the state.

2. The other measure proposes to enshrine a 12-week abortion ban in the constitution, with exceptions only for cases of rape, incest, or when the woman’s life is at risk.

Nebraska’s decision to present both measures follows similar actions in other states where voters will decide on abortion-related amendments. These include:

Arizona: Voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to protect abortion rights up to about 24 weeks. This measure is aimed at preventing bans before a fetus can survive outside the womb and allows later abortions to protect a woman’s health.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel 

Colorado: The state will vote on a measure to enshrine abortion protections in the constitution, including mandates for Medicaid and private health insurers to cover abortion services. Abortion is currently legal at all stages in Colorado.

Florida:  A measure to legalize abortion until viability will appear on the ballot. It needs at least 60% support to pass, a significant threshold given the state’s current law banning abortions after six weeks.

Maryland: Maryland voters will be asked to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution, protecting access up to viability.

Missouri: A proposed constitutional amendment would guarantee the right to abortion until fetal viability and allow post-viability abortions if necessary to protect the woman’s health, aiming to overturn the state’s near-total abortion ban.

Nevada: Voters will decide on an amendment to protect abortion access for up to 24 weeks, or later if necessary for the health of the pregnant woman. The amendment would need approval in both 2024 and 2026 to change the constitution.

South Dakota: A measure will be on the ballot to prevent any restrictions on abortion in the first trimester, with some regulatory powers in the second trimester and potential prohibitions in the third trimester with exceptions.

New York also has a reproductive rights measure on the ballot that would prohibit discrimination based on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare, though it does not explicitly mention abortion. Legal challenges and procedural issues have complicated the measure’s journey to the ballot.

In Arkansas, a recent court decision upheld the exclusion of an abortion rights initiative from the November ballot due to procedural issues with signature documentation.

These upcoming votes reflect the ongoing national debate over abortion rights, with voters across the country poised to weigh in on various proposals aimed at either expanding or restricting access to abortion services.

#trending #latest #NebraskaAbortionBallot #AbortionRights #USAbortionDebate #November2024Elections #StateBallotMeasures #headlines #topstories #globalUpdate #dxbnewsnetwork #dxbnews #dxbdnn #dxbnewsnetworkdnn #bestnewschanneldubai #bestnewschannelUAE #bestnewschannelabudhabi #bestnewschannelajman #bestnewschannelofdubai #popularnewschanneldubai