After the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to revoke, Friday, June 24, the judgment Roe vs. Wade, leaving the American states to legislate on the right to abortion, a certain number of them have already enforced their own laws.
Thirteen states, in particular, had provided for laws against abortion called “trigger laws” (literally “triggering laws”), designating a law that is inapplicable but may come into force when certain conditions are met, in this case after the cancellation of the Roe judgment vs. Wade.
These were Missouri, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
All these states, joined by others, have adopted laws, or are in the process of doing so, prohibiting abortion (in red on the map). However, some of these laws have been suspended by judges, allowing a temporary resumption of pregnancy terminations.
Other states (in orange) have adopted – or will soon do so – laws restricting the right to abortion. Overall, it is a question of reducing the time limit for recourse to a maximum of fifteen weeks of pregnancy, or even six in the strictest States. Some states are more undecided (in yellow on the map). In Montana, for example, passing such laws would require amending the state constitution. This is how in Kansas the inhabitants of were called upon to decide on the question on Tuesday, August 2. With a high turnout, nearly 60% of voters ultimately rejected a constitutional amendment that would have weakened the right to terminate a pregnancy.
Finally, abortion remains legal in around twenty states (in blue). Some of them, notably California, Oregon or New Jersey, have further strengthened the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion).