— Voters in Kentucky have voted down that will amend the state structure to say there isn't a proper to abortion.
State lawmakers have already handed a near-total ban. The poll measure would have undercut authorized arguments from abortion-rights supporters difficult abortion restrictions.
"It is a victory for bodily autonomy and the appropriate of all Kentuckians to make one of the best selections for themselves, however the battle just isn't over," mentioned Amber Duke, interim govt director for the ACLU of Kentucky. "We'll now proceed our battle in state court docket to revive abortion entry within the commonwealth."
"Thanks to everybody who voted Sure on 2 and supported this essential trigger," mentioned Kentucky Proper to Life Govt Director Addia Wuchner, RN in an announcement. "As we speak, we're disillusioned. However tomorrow, we can be motivated. This work is simply too essential to stop, and we look ahead to the following section of prolife advocacy in Kentucky.”
Lawmakers added the proposed modification to the poll final 12 months, a transfer that some thought would drive extra conservative voters to the polls. However because the Roe resolution, abortion-rights supporters have raised practically $1.5 million to battle it. The choice mirrors the shock consequence this summer time in conservative Kansas, the place voters overwhelmingly defeated an analogous modification that will have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten restrictions or ban the process outright.
A defeat for the Kentucky poll measure wouldn’t have a direct impact on the legal guidelines already handed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, together with a near-total ban with a slender exception for the girl's well being that the allowed to enter impact. A court docket listening to for a problem to that regulation is about for Nov. 15.