US voters back abortion protections in Missouri, Nevada, Virginia; Idaho rejects change

Voters in Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia approved ballot measures protecting abortion rights in Tuesday's midterm elections, while Idaho rejected a measure to ease its strict ban. The results mark a continued trend of state-level support for abortion access. Nevada's Proposition 6 enshrines abortion rights until fetal viability, about 24 weeks, into the state constitution after a second voter approval. Virginia voters secured a "fundamental right to reproductive freedom," covering abortion in the first two trimesters, contraception, and postpartum care. Missouri rejected a Republican-backed proposal to ban abortion after 12 weeks, maintaining existing protections. Idaho was the only state among the four to vote against loosening its near-total abortion ban, which took effect in 2022. That year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending federal abortion protections and returning regulatory authority to individual states.