Missouri Supreme Court restores abortion rights amendment to November ballot

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a proposed amendment to restore abortion rights in the state must appear on the November ballot. The decision came just hours before the deadline for changes, overriding Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s attempt to remove the measure on Monday.

The proposed amendment aims to enshrine abortion rights in Missouri’s constitution, undoing the state’s 2022 near-total abortion ban. If passed, it would prohibit government interference in abortion access. The court’s order directed Ashcroft, a known abortion opponent, to “take all steps necessary to ensure that it is on said ballot.”

“Missourians overwhelmingly support reproductive rights, including access to abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care,” said Rachel Sweet, campaign manager for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, which backs the measure.

The amendment is part of a national movement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade, with eight other states also considering similar measures this year. Legal challenges have emerged in several states over ballot access and the wording of abortion-related initiatives, reflecting the contentious nature of the issue.

Voting on the amendment is expected to drive turnout in Missouri, potentially impacting key state and national races in November.