The Dakotans for Health, a group advocating for abortion rights, has gathered enough signatures to qualify for the November 2024 ballot in South Dakota. The proposed constitutional amendment would allow abortions in the first trimester and regulate them in the second trimester based on the pregnant woman’s physical health. It would also allow for regulation or prohibition in the third trimester, except to preserve the life or health of the mother.
If passed, the amendment would override the current ban on abortion in South Dakota. Proponents believe it will restore women’s personal freedom and align with the protections outlined in the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision. However, pro-life activists are opposing the effort.
It is uncertain if the measure will pass in the conservative state, where President Donald Trump won by a significant margin in the 2020 election. South Dakota is one of several states where activists are working to establish the right to abortion.
