In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the federal right to an abortion. Across the country, Republican-led state legislatures moved to put abortion restrictions in place. The decision, Republicans often said, had been returned to the states.

But public opinion on abortion has been clear: The majority of Americans believe that the procedure should be legal in all or most cases, a fact that seems to run counter to the flood of new bans and restrictions. Now, in the first presidential election since Roe ended, 10 states will vote directly on abortion rights. Half of those measures could overturn active bans.

But even in states where voters aren’t weighing in on specific constitutional amendments, abortion is shaping the 2024 election up and down the ballot. The post-Roe world has revealed connections between abortion and a wider array of health care decisions, the economy, and myriad intersecting issues — climate, IVF, racial justice. And repeated polls have shown that voters across the country believe abortion is a critical issue in this election — prioritizing it more than they ever have in how they cast their ballots. 

In the series Abortion on the Ballot, The 19th News Network — a collective of national, regional and local publishers — is reporting on the expected and unexpected ways that abortion is shaping the election. Ten newsrooms from across the country, a mix of national and regional, are tackling how abortion will appear on the ballot in 2024. The work shows the breadth and nuance of the issue, which expands far past ballot measures and who will win the White House.

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Florida’s abortion ban has an exception for fatal fetal anomalies. So why was this woman forced to go to Virginia?

In November, Florida voters will have a chance to codify abortion rights. It could be the only way that people with medically complex pregnancies could access the procedure in the state. Read the full story.

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IVF is popular in pro-family Utah. Why aren’t candidates talking about it?

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, some states are now beginning to develop policies to regulate IVF. This article was co-published with The Salt Lake Tribune. Read the full story.

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In Arizona, a generation fears inconsistencies on abortion access and climate action

The issues are intersecting and have moved front and center for Gen Z Arizonans in this election cycle. This article was co-published with The Arizona Republic. Read the full story.

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State supreme court races could determine abortion access in several states

This fall, the races for state supreme court are no longer down-ballot contests — their outcomes could determine the future of abortion access. This article was co-published with Ms. It originally appeared in the fall 2024 issue of Ms. magazine. Read the full story.

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He’s been flying people to access reproductive care. Here’s how he’s preparing for the election.

Regardless of the outcome of the election, this organization flying people to access abortion and gender-affirming care will have plenty of work. ​​This article was co-published with The Advocate. Read the full story.

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Missouri voters could undo their state’s abortion ban. Making abortion accessible is a different story.

Even before Roe v. Wade fell, a web of restrictions had made abortion largely unavailable in Missouri – particularly in the rural areas home to a third of the state’s residents. This article was co-published with The Daily Yonder. Read the full story.

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Pennsylvania voters could determine the future of federal abortion rights. Here’s how they’re being courted.

Even if abortion isn’t directly on the ballot in Pennsylvania, the message about the stakes is reaching them in ways that consider the many intersectional identities of voters. This article was co-published with Reckon. Read the full story.

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Abortion access is settled law in Oregon. So why are advocates worried?

Oregon has positioned itself to serve as a reproductive health care sanctuary for those in states with strict abortion bans. But advocates are still concerned that access might be chipped away. This article was co-published with Oregon Public Broadcasting. Read the full story.

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Hadley Duvall is the ‘accidental activist’ making voters care about abortion

The 22-year-old never wanted to be political. Now she’s touring the country for the Harris campaign. This article was co-published with Teen Vogue. Read the full story.

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‘Womb to tomb’: Can anti-abortion advocates find common ground with the climate movement?

Some Christian activists are trying to mobilize anti-abortion conservatives for environmental action under the banner of protecting life. But not everyone in or outside the church agrees with the tactic. This article was co-published with Inside Climate News. Read the full story.