Abortion question will likely appear on NY 2024 ballot

New York voters will likely get to weigh in on the question of whether the state constitution should protect the right to abortion access after state lawmakers passed a measure that would put the matter on the ballot in an upcoming election.

The resolution to put the abortion question on the ballot in a future election was first introduced last year, and passed both chambers of the New York state government this week with a strong majority in both the House of Representatives and the State Assembly. The measure is now able to appear on any upcoming ballot, but state lawmakers believe putting it on the 2024 ballot will give the measure its best chance at passing due to what will likely be high turnout in a presidential election year.

The measure is intended to strengthen state abortion laws to protect access to reproductive and abortion care within New York in spite of the overturning of Roe v Wade by the Supreme Court last summer. If passed by voters, it would effectively codify the right to abortion in the state of New York, and protect those from out of the state who traveled there to seek abortion care from states with strict abortion laws or outright bans.

In May of last year, ahead of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $35 million investment by the state in protecting abortion providers from being prosecuted by other states for performing abortions on patients who travel to New York for care. “I will never stop fighting to make New York a safe harbor for all who need care and a blueprint for other states to follow,” Hochul said at the time.