Abortion access advocates in Nevada have collected and submitted over 200,000 petition signatures, nearly doubling the number needed to qualify a measure for the November ballot that would protect reproductive rights in the state constitution. The supporters believe that the government should not interfere in personal and private decisions regarding individuals’ bodies, lives, and futures. Elections officials still need to verify the signatures from Nevada’s 17 counties, including the most populous and Democratic-leaning area of Clark County.
Nevada currently allows abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, a point considered a marker of fetal viability. However, with the overturn of Roe v. Wade and the tightening of abortion restrictions in Republican-controlled states, advocates in Nevada are pushing to strengthen abortion access. Several states have either banned abortions entirely or restricted access to the procedure. The neighboring states of Idaho, Arizona, and Utah have stricter abortion rules than Nevada, prompting the need for the proposed measure to enshrine reproductive rights in the state’s constitution.
Supporters of the measure believe that it would ensure a fundamental individual right to abortion while allowing the state to regulate abortion after fetal viability to protect the life or health of the pregnant individual. However, opponents, like Nevada Right to Life director Melissa Clement, argue that Democrats are politically exploiting a difficult and traumatic decision for women. They vow to continue fighting against the proposed amendment both in courts and at the ballot box. The signature-gathering process is one of two tracks being pursued to get the measure on the ballot, as voters must approve a constitutional amendment twice to amend the Nevada Constitution.
In addition to the signature drive, Nevada’s Democratic-majority lawmakers passed a 24-week right-to-abortion measure last year along party lines. The issue is expected to come up for another vote when lawmakers reconvene for their next legislative session in Carson City. If approved, the proposed constitutional amendment would then be put on the statewide ballot in 2026 for final approval. The ongoing efforts in Nevada reflect a larger national conversation around abortion access, with various states taking different approaches to either restrict or protect reproductive rights. As the debate continues, advocates and opponents in Nevada remain committed to ensuring the future of abortion access in the state.
