Kentucky Voters Reject Anti-Abortion Constitutional Amendment
Amendment 2 would have amended the state constitution to clarify that it does not protect the right to abortion
11.09.2022 – (PRESS STATEMENT) Kentucky voters have rejected Amendment 2, a ballot initiative that would have amended the state constitution to clarify that it does not protect the right to abortion. Because of Kentucky’s “trigger ban”, abortion has been unavailable in Kentucky for months, with no exceptions for rape, incest, and extremely narrow exceptions for medical emergencies. Lawsuits challenging Kentucky’s abortion ban would have been thwarted had Amendment 2 passed.
Statement from Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights:
“Across the country last night, we saw an unmistakable repudiation of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe. From Kentucky to Michigan to Vermont to California, Americans want their right to abortion protected. As we saw in Kansas earlier this year, and in many other states last night, this is not a partisan issue. Voters are turning out in full force to restore the right the Supreme Court took away from them. People are energized and they do not want politicians controlling their bodies and futures.”
Kentucky voters defeated the ballot initiative in the face of a well-funded misinformation campaign, including false claims there would be exceptions to any bans in the state. Last night, voters in Michigan, Vermont and California voted to protect the right to abortion in their constitutions. Voters in Montana also voted on an abortion-related ballot initiative, which has not yet been called.The Center for Reproductive Rights’ interactive map is being updated in real time tonight to reflect the results of abortion-related, non-partisan ballot initiatives.
About Amendment 2: The ballot initiative asked voters, “Are you in favor of amending the Constitution of Kentucky by creating a new Section of the Constitution to be numbered Section 26A to state as follows: ‘To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion?’”. Voters rejected the amendment.
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