Key facts
- Idaho's strict abortion ban, prohibiting the procedure at all stages of pregnancy, will be subject to a public vote in November.
- A ballot initiative to reverse the ban, allowing abortions until fetal viability, has been certified.
- The measure would restore abortion access similar to the period before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
- Idaho's current ban has limited exceptions and has led some healthcare providers to leave the state.
- Opponents of the measure anticipate it will invalidate numerous pro-life laws enacted over decades.
Idaho's secretary of state has certified a ballot measure that could overturn one of the nation's strictest abortion bans, allowing voters to decide the issue in November. The measure, spearheaded by the volunteer group Idahoans United for Women & Families, gathered over 100,000 signatures, significantly surpassing the threshold required to appear on the ballot.
If approved by voters, the initiative would establish a law for "reproductive freedom," permitting abortions up to fetal viability, generally around 21 weeks of gestation. This would largely revert Idaho's law to its status before the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which enabled states to ban or severely restrict abortion.
The current Idaho ban prohibits abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with exceptions only for saving the pregnant person's life or in cases of rape or incest. This strictness has made it difficult for healthcare providers, with many reportedly leaving the state due to severe penalties. Four women have sued the state over complications where they were denied abortions.
Opponents, like David Ripley, CEO of Idaho Chooses Life, anticipate the measure will invalidate decades of pro-life legislation. The situation in Idaho mirrors broader national efforts, as other states like Virginia and Nevada are also considering constitutional amendments to protect abortion rights, while Missouri is voting on reinstating a ban.