The US state of New York wants to enshrine the right to abortion in its constitution. The Senate voted on Friday to pass an amendment to the constitution that provides a right to abortion and access to contraceptives.
After Friday’s vote in the Democrat-ruled state, the New York House of Representatives must vote on the text before it can be presented to voters in a referendum.
The state is responding to the recent reversal of a nearly 50-year landmark ruling that established a nationwide right to abortion. The Supreme Court made the landmark decision Roe v. Wade” from 1973 overturned a week ago, triggering a political earthquake.
With the decision of the constitutional judges, states can now largely or even completely ban abortion. Conservative states took immediate action. Many had already prepared laws that came into force almost automatically with the decision of the Supreme Court.
The civil rights organization American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said on Friday that there is now no or almost no access to abortions in around a dozen states. “That number is likely to increase over the coming days, weeks and months until it’s about 26 states nationwide,” said ACLU Director Anthony Romero. That’s more than half of the 50 states.
Abortion rights organizations have already gone to court in 11 states to challenge restrictive laws. States ruled by the Democrats want to consolidate abortion rights. President Joe Biden has also spoken out in favor of enshrining the right to abortion in federal law throughout the country. However, it is almost impossible that there will be the necessary majorities in Congress in Washington.
