In the United States, eyes are now on Kansas. After the heated debates that followed the Supreme Court’s decision in June to overturn Roe vs. Wade of 1973 which guaranteed a right to abortion at the federal level, the inhabitants of Kansas are preparing to go to the polls this Tuesday, August 2. At stake, the withdrawal or not of the guarantee of the right to abortion in the Constitution of this traditionally conservative State of the Midwest.
In Kansas, abortion has been constitutionally protected since a 2019 state Supreme Court ruling. abortion, to possibly restrict or prohibit it. “It just restores our ability to have a conversation”defends Mackenzie Haddix, spokesperson for the “Value Them Both” movement, which seeks to end these constitutional protections.
Door open to restrictions
On the side of the supporters of the “no” in the referendum, it is feared that Kansas will follow suit with the neighboring states of Missouri and Oklahoma, where the ban on abortion is almost total. If today, abortion is possible in Kansas up to 22 weeks of pregnancy, some supporters of the “yes” vote indeed hope that the withdrawal of constitutional protection will make it possible to restrict it, or even to prohibit it. “I just want this to go to the vote of lawmakers and voters. I would vote for no abortion, I think life begins at conception” confides Christine Vasquez, 43 years old. This year, a Kansas elected official introduced a bill to ban abortion in all circumstances.
Supporters of the “no” vote thus denounce a major violation of women’s rights: “At the end of the day, the amendment (of the constitution) takes away that right to personal autonomy enjoyed by all Kansas people. […] Making decisions about our bodies, our families, our future without government interference is a right.”told AFP Ashley All, spokesperson for the “no” campaign of “Kansans for Constitutional Freedom” (KCF).
Uncertainties
The ballot is a test in the United States, where uncertainty over the right to abortion has been hovering since it was called into question at the federal level in June. According to a 2021 survey by Fort Hays State University, less than 20% of Kansas respondents said they supported banning abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. Half of the respondents said they thought that no regulations should be imposed on women by the Kansas government. In this state which leans heavily on the side of the Republicans, but whose governor Laura Kelly is a Democrat, the results of this election are eagerly awaited.