Nevada approves abortion rights ballot measure

Nevada voters have passed a ballot measure to protect abortion rights, one of 10 abortion-related measures up for a vote in the U.S. 

A Nevada law from 1990 protects abortion until 24 weeks of pregnancy. Those protections can be reversed only by state referendum, but the amendment’s backers have said they want to ensure an abortion rights law is almost impossible to overturn. 

Nevada is a key battleground state, and while it hasn’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate since George W. Bush in 2004, it elected a Republican governor in 2022. Reproductive rights advocates argued that further protections were necessary, especially as many Republican-controlled states enact abortion restrictions. 

The initiative would amend the constitution to include a right to abortion until fetal viability — generally considered to be around 24 weeks of gestation. The amendment leaves the definition up to the pregnant person’s health provider. 

Under state law, voters will need to approve it again in 2026 before the Nevada constitution is formally amended. 

Reproductive rights ballot measures have succeeded in every state where they appeared on the ballot since Roe was overturned, including conservative-leaning ones.

Nevada’s measure had significant bipartisan support, though it was unclear if it helped boost turnout for Democrats.