Republican lawmakers in at least 15 states are moving bills that would make it less democratic. Their aim is to raise the threshold so that far fewer proposed constitutional amendments can make it onto the ballot. Those recent ballot measures show voters are not just supportive of abortion rights — they’re deep in support. This fervent support is even more astonishing in states such as Arizona and Colorado. The Fairness Project is a nonprofit organization that supports citizen-led ballot initiatives that expand access and opportunity. It highlights an important new pattern: the concerted effort by Republican legislators to attack voter power.
In Arizona, voters overwhelmingly voted to protect abortion rights in their state constitution five months early. Yet Republican lawmakers have since triumphed in advancing bills that would further restrict any use of abortion-inducing drugs. This legislative push reflects a national pattern where abortion rights supporters have successfully rallied public support at the ballot box, even as Republicans regained power in Washington in the last election cycle.
Kelly Hall, executive director of the Fairness Project, condemned the actions of Republican legislators. She stated that they are systematically attempting to take power away from voters by imposing stricter requirements on ballot initiatives.
Supporters of abortion rights, meanwhile, celebrated recent major victories in Colorado. In that fight, voters overwhelmingly approved a measure to enshrine the right to abortion in the state’s constitution. Prior to this, abortion in Colorado was already legally protected up to fetal viability. However, contrary to this pattern of local wins, Republican lawmakers are filing some of the most aggressive anti-reproductive health service access bills all year.
In Montana, GOP lawmakers have introduced a bill that would criminalize traveling to or from the state for an abortion later in pregnancy, with penalties of up to five years in prison. Additionally, this legislation would make it a felony crime to bring a minor into the state for an abortion. These types of measures are signs of a big turn in the other direction, to impose restrictions on reproductive rights at the state level.
In Missouri, GOP legislators are already preparing to prefile a constitutional amendment. The new program is designed to reverse a past cause sought by voters that protected abortion rights up until the point of fetal viability. The new measure would remove a near-total abortion ban still on the books, despite being blocked.
Lawmakers in Arizona, Missouri, and South Dakota are advancing efforts to increase the threshold to pass ballot initiatives. They’re looking to raise it from a mere simple majority to 60%. This heightened burden would make it more difficult for any future amendment — including amendments to protect abortion rights — to pass. Plus, bills moving in at least 15 other states impose burdensome signature thresholds for would-be amendment-makers to reach the ballot.
Yari Aquino, an independent advisor for EMILY’s List, addressed what these legislative advancements mean. This national organization helps put more Democratic pro-choice women on the state and federal ballots. She highlighted the theme of uniquely conservative efforts to subvert initiatives passed by voters. As a resposta, Democrats need to put abortion rights front and center of their platforms as they prepare for next year’s midterms.
“Even when their voters made their support of abortion access extremely clear with these ballot amendments, Republicans are still willing to trample them,” – Yari Aquino
As to the second, Republican lawmakers have long asserted that by enacting these laws, they are protecting health and safety standards for abortion services. Yet, say their opponents, these types of measures disproportionately threaten women’s reproductive rights. In her testimony, Kelsey Pritchard raised flags about the possible impacts of these legislative moves.
“The abortion industry’s attempts to completely deregulate their industry via ballot measures is putting women and girls in danger,” – Kelsey Pritchard
Stephanie Simacek, an Arizona resident and national advocate for reproductive rights, explained the importance of the recent voter outcomes. She promised that the will of Arizonans would not continue to be ignored by powerful elites with connections to local governing bodies.
“Arizonans spoke their voice. They used their voice to say what they wanted,” – Stephanie Simacek
She called the new legislative efforts a “backdoor way” for legislators to subsume voters’ will. This description paints a vivid picture of her intense loathing of their conduct.
“It’s a backdoor way for them to try to come in and overrule the voice of the people here in Arizona,” – Stephanie Simacek
As these developments play out in states around the country, the stakes couldn’t be higher. These initiatives defending reproductive freedoms are directly colliding with Republican-led statewide efforts to attack those very same rights. Yet Republican lawmakers are moving to put their political strategy on grim display. These actions signal a new frontlines in the fight for reproductive rights and empowering voters on a national stage.