Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s tight race to the presidency is not the only vote taking place at ballot boxes across the United States.
Ten states — Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York and South Dakota — are asking voters to decide on abortion access.
They will move to either expand or maintain their current rules around abortion except for Nebraska, which is asking whether to preserve the current 12-week ban or enshrine abortion rights into the state’s constitution.
States absorbed the power to implement rules on abortion following the 2022 US Supreme Court decision to overrule the constitutional right to an abortion under Roe v Wade.
Reproductive freedom has consequently been a centrepiece issue in Harris’ campaign, appealing to women by promising to approve legislation protecting the right nationally.
She was joined by Beyoncé at a rally in Texas on Friday — a battleground for abortion rights as women fight against some of the strictest rules in the country.
“I pledge to you, when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law,” Harris told the crowd.
Why thousands of voters are lining up with stickers in this cemetery
At a rally in Wisconsin last week, Trump attempted to win over women by promising to be their protector.
“I want to protect the women of our country. Well, I’m going to do it, whether the women like it or not. I’m going to protect them,” he told the crowd.
Here is a guide on what voters will decide on in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York and South Dakota.
Abortion is legal up to 15 weeks.
At any point of the pregnancy, abortion is legal if a doctor determines there is a medical emergency where the woman could die or if there is a risk of substantial and irreversible impairment to a major bodily function if she continues in her pregnancy.
Voters are being asked whether to expand access to abortion up to fetal viability, about 22 to 24 weeks, and enshrine it into the state’s constitution.
Abortion is legal without any restrictions.
Voters are being asked whether to maintain the current level of access and enshrine it into the state’s constitution.
Abortion is illegal after six weeks.
Exceptions may apply to the time frame if the pregnancy is a result of rape, incest or human trafficking.
Voters are being asked whether to expand access to abortion up to fetal viability, about 22 to 24 weeks, or if the woman’s life health or life is at risk, as determined by a doctor.
It would undo the state’s strict abortion ban.
Abortion is legal without any restrictions.
Voters are being asked whether to maintain the current level of access and enshrine it into the state’s constitution.
Abortion is illegal except for medical emergencies.
There are no exceptions to the law in the instance of rape, incest or human trafficking.
Voters are being asked whether to expand access to abortion up to fetal viability, about 22 to 24 weeks, and enshrine it into the state’s constitution.
It would undo the state’s strict abortion ban.
Abortion is legal up to fetal viability, about 22 to 24 weeks.
It is also legal after that timeframe in the instance the woman’s health or life is at serious risk, as determined by a doctor.
Voters are being asked whether to maintain the current level of access and enshrine it into the state’s constitution.
Abortion is illegal after 12 weeks.
Voters are being asked whether to legalise abortion up to fetal viability, about 22 to 24 weeks, or enshrine the current ban.
Abortion is legal up to fetal viability, about 22 to 24 weeks.
Voters are being asked whether to maintain the current level of access and enshrine it into the state’s constitution.
Abortion is legal up to fetal viability, about 22 to 24 weeks.
It is also legal after that timeframe in the instance the woman’s health, life or pregnancy is at risk, as determined by a doctor.
Voters are being asked whether to maintain the current level of access and enshrine it into the state’s constitution.
Abortion is illegal except if the woman’s life is at risk.
There are no exceptions in the instance of rape, incest or human trafficking.
Voters are being asked whether to expand access to allow abortion in the first and second trimesters, with regulations.
