There was an undeniable sense of cautious optimism, even melancholy, at the Amendment 3 Watch Party at the Marriott St. Louis Grand hotel downtown Tuesday night.
The right for people to make decisions about their reproductive health, including the right to abortion and contraceptives, has now been enshrined in the state’s constitution, legalizing abortion up until fetal viability.
Joined by supporters of Proposition A, the measure to raise the state’s minimum wage, there were periodic episodes of loud cheering and hearty applause as voter tallies steadily rose for both measures.
Perhaps stunned by the gloomy indications that former President Donald Trump was beating Vice President Kamala Harris in most of the nation’s swing states, the crowd went from raucous to wary in a matter of moments. Still, with the passage of Amendment 3, which overturned the state’s harsh abortion bans that provided no exceptions for rape or incest, hope remained in the air.
Seventh Ward Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier said, “I’m excited about reproductive access being available to Missouri women again.”
“We know that when people don’t have access, they die. Missouri has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the county so this is really important.
“Love Holt, a long-time abortion rights advocate and intervention specialist with the Community Wellness project was ecstatic as positive numbers rolled in.
“I’ve come up from the Peabody Projects and have been telling women for years that we’ve got to get activated. Black and Brown women especially need to have safe access to abortions. I’m sad that we have to be in this place right now, but tonight, we’re pulling off a win!”
Nathaniel McBride, a 25-year-old St. Louis County resident, canvassed for the first time during the 2024 campaign, working for passage of Amendment 3 and Proposition A.
“We’re living in very radical times. I’ve always been politically-minded but this time I wanted to take action” McBride said, giving special emphasis on the abortion ban.
“I feel the attacks on a few will result in attacks on us all.”
In June 2022, with the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, Missouri outlawed abortions, with the only exception being saving the mother’s life literally making all abortions illegal.This ban made it a class B felony for any person who performed or induced an abortion.
Suzette Newman, who works with the local ACLU, was pleased with the early numbers indicating Amendment 3’s passage. Health concerns for women is her major motivator.
“There have been a lot of ladies that really need abortions that have been dying,” said Suzette Newman, who works with the local ACLU, citing a case where a woman’s life was drastically altered.
“She actually got so sick because she couldn’t have an abortion, her uterus was so messed up she will never be able to have babies anymore and that’s sad.”
The Associated Press called the vote for the amendment shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, with the amendment passing at a 52.3% to 47.6% margin.
The amendment’s passage, according to Jasmine Williams, manager of organizing campaigns for Planned Parenthood-Great Rivers, is good for Missouri.
“Anything that involves a woman’s right to choose options for herself will always be important to me. Black women are already disenfranchised when it comes to healthcare so I want to make sure that in times when we are at our most vulnerable, we have the access we need.”
The amendment to the state constitution will take effect 30 days after the election, on Dec. 5.
Amendment 2 narrowly passes
Missouri voters have approved Amendment 2, which allows sports gambling in the state.
The measure passed by about 7,500 votes, according to unofficial results reported Wednesday morning by the Missouri Secretary of State’s office.
The amendment calls for a 10% sales tax on all collected gambling revenue to be directed toward funding education and the compulsive gambling fund.
The Missouri Gaming Commission will now be in charge of enforcing gambling regulations on operators.
“Every day, tens of thousands of Missourians are betting on sports, either on illegal offshore websites or they’re going to one of our seven neighboring states,” Jack Cardetti, spokesperson for Winning for Missouri Education said before the election. “As it currently stands, Missouri is getting no benefit out of that.”
Amendment 6 loses by wide margin
The amendment to allow court fees to fund law enforcement retirement benefits was soundly defeated. It would have allowed Missouri’s court system to impose costs and fees on court cases to help fund salaries and benefits for current and former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys and circuit attorneys.
Amendment 7 is approved
Missouri voters added a constitutional provision that prevents ranked choice voting. Additionally, there is a redundant provision in the ballot language that says noncitizens can’t vote in a Missouri election – which is already illegal federally and in Missouri.
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.