Abortion Rights Are Disability Rights!
Abortion supports disabled people’s autonomy. Access to all reproductive health care options empowers people to make decisions about their bodies and futures. People with disabilities have been and continue to be systematically denied this right because of forced sterilization, limits on marriage, restrictive conservatorships, and institutionalization. Ensuring access to abortion protects our freedom to make our own choices about our bodies, our futures, and our families.
Abortion is essential health care. Abortion can save a person’s life when they experience medical complications during pregnancy. People with disabilities are just as likely to become pregnant as non-disabled people but are at higher risk of serious medical complications. Right now, disabled people are 11 times more likely to die during childbirth. Access to potentially life-saving emergency abortion care is essential for us.
DREDF created informational flyers about state ballot initiatives affecting abortion access. You can download, print and share them.
Arizona
- Proposition 139: Enshrine the fundamental right to abortion in the Arizona state constitution. Protect abortion up to viability (usually ~24 weeks of pregnancy). Exception to viability limit to protect the life and health of the pregnant person.
- Current abortion policy: Bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy with an exception for the life of the pregnant person.
- Voter registration deadlines in Arizona:
- October 7 (Online, by mail, and in person)
Colorado
- Initiative 89: Enshrine the fundamental right to abortion in the Colorado state constitution. Repeal constitutional amendment that prohibited the use of state funds to provide insurance coverage for abortion. (Repealing this limitation on funds will be particularly important for PWD who are more likely to be covered by Medicaid or Medicare.)
- Current abortion policy: No bans on access to abortion. Right to abortion is protected by state statute.
- Voter registration deadlines in Colorado:
- October 28 (by mail and online)
- November 5 (in-person)
Florida
- Proposition 4: Enshrine right to abortion in Florida state constitution. Protect abortion up to viability (usually ~24 weeks of pregnancy) and protect the life and health of the pregnant person. Prohibits government interference with the right. Still allows the legislature to require parental consent for minors.
- Current abortion policy: Bans abortion after 6 weeks of pregnancy. Survivors of rape, incest or human trafficking can access abortion up to 15 weeks but must provide documentation of the abuse. Exceptions to save the pregnant person’s life or if the fetus is not viable.
- Voter registration deadlines in Florida:
- October 7 (Online, by mail and in person)
Maryland
- Question 1: Enshrine the right to reproductive freedom, including access to abortion, in the Maryland state constitution.
- Current abortion policy: Abortion protected up to viability (usually ~24 weeks of pregnancy).
- Voter registration deadlines in Maryland:
- October 15 (by mail and online)
- November 5 (in-person)
Missouri
- Amendment 3: Enshrine the right to reproductive freedom, including access to abortion up to viability (usually ~24 weeks of pregnancy), in the Missouri state constitution. Exceptions to viability limit to protect the health or life of the pregnant person.
- Current abortion policy: Bans all abortions. Exception to save the life of the pregnant person.
- Voter registration deadlines and Missouri:
- October 9 (by mail, online and in person)
Montana
- CI-128: Enshrine the right to abortion up to viability (usually ~24 weeks of pregnancy) in the Montana state constitution. Exception to the viability limit to protect the health or life of the pregnant person.
- Current abortion policy: Abortion protected up to viability. Montana Supreme Court recognized the right to “procreative autonomy” in 2022.
- Voter registration deadlines in Montana:
- October 7 (by mail)
- November 5 (in person)
Nebraska
- Right to Abortion Initiative: Enshrine the right to abortion up to viability (usually ~24 weeks of pregnancy) in the Nebraska state constitution. Exception to the viability limit to protect the health or life of the pregnant person.
- Prohibit Abortions After First Trimester Amendment: Amends the Nebraska state constitution to prohibit abortions after the first trimester. Exceptions for medical emergencies or for pregnancies resulting from assault or incest.
- Current abortion policy: Ban on abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Exceptions to 12 week ban to save the life of the pregnant person, and for rape and incest.
- Voter registration deadlines in Nebraska:
- October 18 (by mail and online)
- October 25 (in-person)
Nevada
- Question 6: Enshrine the right to abortion up to viability (usually ~24 weeks of pregnancy) in the Nevada state constitution. Exception to viability limit to protect the health or life of the pregnant person.
- Current abortion policy: Abortion ban after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Criminalizes self-managed abortion after 24 weeks.
- Voter registration deadlines in Nevada:
- October 8 (by mail)
- October 23 (online)
- November 5 (in-person)
New York
- Proposition 1: Amends New York state constitution’s civil rights amendment to include anti-discrimination protections for pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare.
- Current abortion policy: Protects abortion until viability. Exceptions to viability limit for protecting the life or health of the pregnant person, or if the fetus is not viable.
- Voter registration deadlines in New York:
- October 26 (online, by mail, in-person)
South Dakota
Download the South Dakota Flyer
- Amendment G: Enshrine the right to an abortion in the first and second trimesters (with some limitations) in the South Dakota state constitution. In the second trimester the state may regulate to protect the health of the pregnant person. In the third trimester the state may prohibit abortion except when necessary to protect the life and health of the pregnant person.
- Current abortion policy: Bans all abortions. Exception where the life of the pregnant person is in jeopardy.
- Voter registration deadlines in South Dakota:
- October 21 (by mail and in-person)