Voters in Kansas, in the US Midwest, voted to uphold the constitutional abortion guarantee on Tuesday, in the first major abortion ballot since the US Supreme Court struck down the right federal to abortion.
Voters in this conservative state rejected by nearly 60% an amendment that would have removed the text guaranteeing the right to abortion in the State Constitution and could have paved the way for stricter regulation or a ban.
This election was seen as a political test at the national level, many conservative states having already banned or intending to quickly ban any right to abortion.
As soon as the result was announced, abortion rights advocates celebrated their side’s victory in the highly controversial debate taking place in the United States.
>> Explanations at 7:30 p.m.:
50% participation
This is a “remarkable” result, said Ashley All, spokesperson for the abortion rights campaign. “The people of Kansas understood that this amendment would impose government control over private medical decisions,” she said.
“Kansans stood up for basic rights today,” Kansas Democratic Governor Laura Kelly tweeted.
Moments after the polls closed at 7 p.m. (2 a.m. in Switzerland), Kansas election overseer Scott Schwab said turnout was at least 50%, a figure in line with expectations for this type of ballot.
Votes in California and Kentucky
While abortion advocates have won a clear victory in Kansas, they are watching with anxiety neighboring states Missouri and Oklahoma, which have imposed near-total bans. Missouri does not allow exceptions for rape or incest.
Other states, including California and Kentucky, are due to vote on the issue in November, coinciding with midterm congressional elections in which Republicans and Democrats hope to rally their supporters around abortion.
The result in Kansas means that abortion will remain legal until 22 weeks of pregnancy. Parental authorization is required for minors.
The vote, which coincided with the Kansas primaries, represented the first opportunity for American voters to express their views on abortion since the Supreme Court overturned its landmark 1973 decision, Roe v. Wade.
>> What will be the fallout from this popular decision? Interview in Forum with Aline Helg, historian specializing in the United States at the University of Geneva.
ats/ther