Voters in Louisiana in the United States have approved a proposal to change the state’s constitution, that would add words ensuring that there is no right to abortion and the state would not be required to fund it.
The amendment, like those already passed in Alabama, West Virginia and Tennessee, was approved by 62.1% to 37.9%.
The decision means that the Louisiana legislature could, in theory, introduce further abortion restrictions in the future.
It follows a recent decision, this summer, by the U.S. Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, rejecting a move by the state of Louisiana to restrict access to abortion by requiring doctors performing abortions in clinics to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “Louisiana is a reliably pro-life state seeking to combat abortion through legislation. Although the amendment will have little immediate effect, it may well prove significant should Roe vs Wade, the 1973 decision legalising abortion throughout the United States, be repealed.
“In the aftermath of the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, the prospect of such a repeal has increased. The legislative efforts of states like Louisiana to restrict abortion, through such measures as a “heartbeat” bill aimed to prohibit abortions after a heartbeat is detected, may force a future vote on the broader issue of Roe vs Wade.
“Until then, a state vote to remove the right to an abortion, as we have seen in Louisiana, will remain symbolic, though it is part of a broader effort across many pro-life states to bring a post-Roe vs Wade America to fruition.”
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