In a significant development for reproductive rights in Missouri, an amendment that seeks to establish and protect abortion access has been approved for the state's general election ballot. This decision was announced by Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft's office on Tuesday.

The proposed amendment aims to modify the state's constitution, ensuring the right to make decisions about reproductive health care, removing existing restrictions on abortion, allowing regulation for improved patient health, and prohibiting discrimination against individuals or entities providing or seeking reproductive health care services.

Notably, the amendment also includes provisions to protect abortion rights until fetal viability, which is generally around the 24th week of pregnancy, except in cases where it is necessary to safeguard the life or health of the mother.

The initiative was spearheaded by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, who submitted the required number of signatures to officials earlier in May. The group celebrated this significant milestone by sharing their achievement on X, stating they had collected over 380,000 signatures.

Rachel Sweet, campaign manager for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, expressed her honor in being part of this historic effort. She emphasized that this November, Missouri voters will have the opportunity to express their views and restore decision-making power regarding abortion back to women, their families, and their healthcare providers.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, known for his conservative stance, was among those who challenged the group's attempt to place abortion on the ballot.

Missouri currently has one of the most stringent abortion bans in the country, with exceptions made only for protecting the life of the mother and for medical emergencies.

The approval of this amendment comes as similar initiatives are gaining momentum in other states across the nation. Amendments aimed at protecting or expanding abortion rights are set to appear on the ballots in seven additional states this fall. In addition, groups in Arkansas, Montana, and Nebraska have also submitted signatures for similar measures.

The push for these ballot measures follows the landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, effectively returning the authority to states to decide on the legality of abortions. Since then, voters in California, Michigan, Ohio, and Vermont have successfully enshrined access to an abortion in their respective state constitutions. However, similar efforts have not been successful in other states.

With this development, Missouri joins a growing list of states where citizens have the opportunity to voice their opinions on this critical issue. The upcoming general election promises to be a significant milestone for reproductive rights in Missouri and beyond.