Protecting Abortion Access: The Battle for New York’s Ballot
As the fall approaches, Democrats in New York are strategizing ways to drive voter turnout in the state. One crucial element of their plan is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that aims to protect abortion access. However, there’s a catch – the ballot question doesn’t mention the word “abortion.”
Arguments are set to begin over a lawsuit that Democrats have filed in hopes of compelling election officials to include the term in an explanation of the amendment for voters. The legal battle comes after the state Board of Elections decided to use the measure’s technical language verbatim, without interpreting it for voters.
The proposed Equal Rights Amendment includes language related to discrimination, including protection based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and reproductive health care. Democrats passed the amendment last year and intend to put it on the ballot in 2024 to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.
Republicans have raised concerns that the amendment could provide new protections for transgender athletes, among other issues. While Democrats push for a clearer description of the amendment, the Board of Elections remains divided on the matter.
New York’s current abortion laws allow the procedure until fetal viability, typically around 24-26 weeks of pregnancy. With Democrats holding a significant majority in state government, new abortion restrictions are unlikely to pass.
Several states have proposed abortion-related questions on their ballots this year in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Recent polling indicates that a majority of Americans support abortion access in some form.
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