Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023
Does Nevada have more legal protections for abortion than California?
Abortion is legal in California and Nevada, but it’s enshrined only in California’s constitution.
Californians approved a ballot measure in November 2022 adding abortion and contraception rights to the state constitution, with nearly 67% of voters in support.
Abortion in Nevada is legal up to 24 weeks into a pregnancy under a state law that can only be overturned via a ballot question. In 1990, voters approved a referendum prohibiting lawmakers from unilaterally amending or repealing the state law.
The Legislature this year passed SJR7, the first step in enshrining abortion rights in the constitution, where repeal would be more difficult. It must also pass the Legislature in 2025 and be approved by voters in 2026 to become part of the constitution.
An April poll from The Nevada Independent and Noble Predictive Insights found 62% of respondents supported adding abortion rights to Nevada’s constitution.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Ballotpedia California Proposition 1, Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2022)
- Ballotpedia Nevada Question 7, Abortion Legal to 24 Weeks Statute Referendum (1990)
- Nevada Legislature SJR7 Overview
- Center for Reproductive Rights After Roe Fell: Abortion Laws by State
- Nevada Independent https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/poll-majority-of-nevadans-back-lottery-gun-control-abortion-protections-in-constitution
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The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement. We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever. The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.
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