The measure, which proposes a right to abortion in Missouri
until fetal viability, will likely appear on the November ballot
for voters after organizers submitted more than 250,000 petition
signatures and the secretary of state's office verified them
last month.
"Today’s Missouri Supreme Court decision is a victory for both
direct democracy and reproductive freedom in Missouri,"
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom wrote on X, the group
sponsoring the measure.
The decision came after a lawsuit filed by anti-abortion
lawmakers and advocates, where a circuit court judge on Friday
ruled that the measure should not have qualified for the ballot
because it did not sufficiently explain the ramifications that
its passage would have.
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom appealed the ruling over
the weekend, and the state Supreme Court's Tuesday decision
reversed the lower court's order.
"It is deeply unfortunate the court decided to ignore laws that
protect voters in order to satisfy pro-abortion activists who
intentionally omitted critical information from the initiative
petition," Mary Catherine Martin, an attorney for the group
challenging the measure's validity, said in a statement.
The decision came just hours before the deadline for Missouri's
ballot printing. On Tuesday morning, the court heard arguments
from the representatives for the respondents - including
Republican state senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman - and for the
appellants.
Missouri's secretary of state John Ashcroft "shall certify to
local election authorities that Amendment 3 be placed on the
November 5, 2024, general election ballot and shall take all
steps necessary to ensure that it is on said ballot," Chief
Justice Mary Russell wrote in the ruling notice.
Missouri is currently enforcing a total abortion ban with
exceptions for medical emergencies. The ballot measure's
proposal to enshrine the right to abortion until fetal viability
- typically around 24 weeks in pregnancy - drew support from 52%
of Missouri voters in a St. Louis University/YouGov poll
conducted from Aug. 9-16. The measure would need more than 50%
support to pass.
The issue of abortion is now set to appear on ballots in nine
states this November, including Missouri and a few battleground
states likely to play critical roles in the presidential race
and the fight for control of Congress.
(Reporting by Gabriella Borter; Editing by Leslie Adler and
Aurora Ellis)
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