Amendment 3: Legalizing abortion

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Probably the best-known of all this year's ballot questions, Amendment 3 would overturn Missouri's near-total abortion ban.

The amendment barely survived a legal challenge, with the Missouri Supreme Court putting it on the ballot just hours before the deadline for certification.

Reestablishing legal protections for abortion and other reproductive health care has been a priority for advocates in the two years since Roe vs. Wade was overturned. Missouri was among the first states to outlaw abortion after that decision.

Detractors say the amendment is overly broad.

Fair ballot language

A “yes” vote establishes a constitutional right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid; removes Missouri's ban on abortion; allows regulation of reproductive health care to improve or maintain the health of the patient; requires the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding, and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care; and allows abortion to be restricted or banned after Fetal Viability except to protect the life or health of the woman.

A “no” vote will continue the statutory prohibition of abortion in Missouri.

If passed, this measure may reduce local taxes while the impact to state taxes is unknown.