Abortion rights boosted with defeat of Kentucky amendment - The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky voters rejected a ballot measurement aimed astatine denying immoderate law protections for abortion, handing a triumph to abortion-rights supporters who person seen entree to the process eroded by Republican lawmakers successful the profoundly reddish state.

The result of the predetermination that concluded Tuesday highlighted what appeared to beryllium a spread betwixt elector sentiment and the expectations of Kentucky’s GOP-dominated legislature, which imposed a near-total prohibition connected abortions and enactment the projected law amendment connected the ballot.

While a important motivation triumph for abortion-rights advocates, the amendment’s decision volition person nary applicable interaction connected the close to an termination if a sweeping prohibition connected the process approved by lawmakers survives a ineligible situation presently earlier the authorities Supreme Court.

Still, the amendment’s rejection leaves unfastened the anticipation that termination could beryllium declared a authorities close by the court.

Rachel Sweet of Protect Kentucky Access, an abortion-rights coalition, hailed the result arsenic a “historic win” against “government overreach” into the idiosyncratic aesculapian decisions of Kentuckians.

“The radical of Kentucky person spoken and their reply is nary –- nary to extremist politicians banning termination and making backstage aesculapian decisions connected their behalf,” said Amber Duke, interim enforcement manager for the ACLU of Kentucky.

Abortion-rights supporters who suffered years of setbacks successful Kentucky’s legislature were jubilant, but said considerably much enactment is up successful their quest to reconstruct entree to the procedure.

The Family Foundation, a faith-based enactment opposed to abortion, said Wednesday that “the combat for the unborn” volition continue.

“While we are disappointed successful the results of Amendment 2, the pro-life question successful Kentucky and crossed the nation, is steadfast successful its resoluteness to proceed defending life,” David Walls, the group’s enforcement director, said successful a written statement. “Kentucky’s laws protecting preborn children stay successful spot and Kentuckians person returned large, pro-life legislative majorities to the General Assembly.”

The Kentucky ballot question had asked voters if they wanted to amend the constitution to say: “To support quality life, thing successful this Constitution shall beryllium construed to unafraid oregon support a close to termination oregon necessitate the backing of abortion.”

A twelvemonth ago, lawmakers had added the projected amendment to the 2022 wide predetermination slate successful a determination immoderate thought would thrust much blimpish voters to the polls astatine a clip earlier the U.S. Supreme Court determination successful June overturning Roe v. Wade.

Since then, voters successful Kansas person rejected a ballot measurement that would person changed that state’s constitution to fto lawmakers tighten restrictions oregon prohibition abortions. Kentucky was among a fistful of states with termination referendums connected the ballot this fall.

The Kentucky Supreme Court has a proceeding adjacent week connected challenges by the state’s 2 remaining termination clinics to the near-total termination prohibition approved by lawmakers. The precocious tribunal ruled this summertime that the prohibition would enactment successful spot portion it reviewed the challenges.

Abortion-related tribunal battles person been predominant and fierce successful Kentucky since Republicans took afloat power of the legislature aft the 2016 election. Lawmakers enacted a bid of laws adding restrictions and requirements for those seeking to extremity their pregnancies.

Fervor ran precocious connected some sides during the campaign, arsenic donations poured in, politicians spoke out, volunteers canvassed neighborhoods and advocates accused the absorption of misleading voters.

The legislature antecedently enacted a alleged trigger instrumentality banning astir each abortions if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The lone instances erstwhile abortions are presently allowed successful Kentucky are to prevention a large woman’s beingness oregon to forestall disabling injury. There are nary exceptions for rape oregon incest victims. Pointing to the highly constrictive exceptions, abortion-rights supporters said the legislature’s hardline basal connected termination made law protections necessary.

Abortion opponents, successful pushing for the amendment, said it would person ensured termination argumentation comes from the legislature — wherever they accidental it belongs — and not from the courts.

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