JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missourians on Tuesday voted to overturn the state’s abortion ban, but the procedure won’t become legal in the state overnight. Amendment 3, which will protect the right to an abortion until after fetal viability, takes effect Dec.
6. After that, litigation is expected to overturn Missouri abortion restrictions, including the current law banning the procedure in cases of rape or incest. “Today’s win is a victory for all Missourians and a crucial step in the path to restoring meaningful access to abortion care,” Tori Schafer, attorney for the Missouri ACLU, said in a statement.
While abortion-rights supporters plan to challenge restrictions in court, abortion opponents are already planning their next moves. “Our work to protect the safety of women and the dignity of life continues. Life supporters will not sit back and watch as Big Abortion works to dismantle all the health and safety protections put in place to protect women and babies,” Stephanie Bell, spokesperson for the group Missouri Stands with Women, said after the vote Tuesday.
“We will continue to fight and ultimately be victorious against the forces who see no value in life,” she said in a statement. While abortion opponents are expected to fight changes to current Missouri law in court, they could also move forward with a resolution in the Legislature to reverse Amendment 3 at the ballot box in 2026. Such an effort would require affirmative votes in both the House and Senat.