Illinois voters will not see an abortion rights measure on their ballots this November after the state’s Democratic-controlled legislature missed the deadline to advance a constitutional amendment. Lawmakers were unable to produce legislation that would have permanently protected abortion access in the Illinois state constitution by the required cutoff date.
The development represents an unexpected setback in a state where abortion access has been widely expanded and protected. Illinois has positioned itself as a regional hub for women seeking abortion services, drawing patients from across the Midwest and other areas where access has been restricted.
While Illinois will not have an abortion-related ballot question this fall, voters in multiple other states across the nation will be deciding on similar constitutional measures during the November election.
