Statement on Kansas Election Results:Voters Support Abortion Rights and are Watching

Richmond, Va - Yesterday, in the first post-Roe v. Wade vote directly on abortion, Kansas voters came out strongly in support of reproductive freedom, rejecting a constitutional amendment that would have eliminated the right to abortion in the state constitution. Kansans made clear that they don’t want the government intruding on their personal medical decisions.

Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia said:

“Kansans made clear that the majority of voters reject banning abortion. Abortion rights prevailed despite confusing language, a typically low-turnout primary ballot, and last-minute attempts to deceive voters via text messages. Let this be a strong warning to Governor Youngkin and his anti-abortion taskforce: Voters are watching and will hold legislators accountable if they advance abortion bans here – whether it’s a total abortion ban as Senator Hackworth and Delegate March are suggesting or a 15-week abortion ban as Senators Dunnavant and Newman and Delegates Byron and Ransone are preparing for September or January.

Let’s be clear: a ban is a ban, plain and simple. The goal of all abortion bans is to stop people from accessing essential health care and to take away people’s power over their own bodies, their lives and their futures. Banning abortion denies a person the fundamental right to control their own body and health care decisions.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia and our supporters will not allow Virginia to go back. We have strength in numbers and power in our united voices. We will keep fighting to ensure everyone has access to the essential health care they need to control their bodies and their futures.”

_{Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia (PPAV) is a statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to preserve and broaden access to reproductive health care through legislation, public education, electoral activity and litigation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. PPAV works to ensure that individuals and families have the freedom, information, and ability to make their own informed reproductive choices.}