Louisiana voters by a wide margin November 3 passed a measure declaring there is no state constitutional right to abortion, while Colorado voters defeated a proposal to ban abortion beginning at 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Unofficial results show that the Louisiana measure, known as the Love Life Amendment, passed 62.1% to 37.9%. It will add language to the state constitution that declares a right to abortion and the funding of abortion shall not be included in the document. Despite the language being added, abortion remains legal in the state, amendment supporters said.
In Colorado, Proposition 115 went down 59.1% to 40.9%, according to unofficial results. The measure included exceptions to save the life of the pregnant woman but not for instances of rape or incest. If it had passed, doctors who continue to perform abortions at 22 weeks would have faced a fine up to $5,000.
Under the measure, the mother was not subject to any criminal penalties. Voters in the state had defeated previous initiatives to limit abortion in 2008, 2010 and 2014. The abortion-related measures were among 120 proposed state laws and constitutional amendments on the ballot in 32 states.