Politics

GOP targets constitutional amendments to head off abortion votes

Conservative lawmakers are trying to head off abortion rights votes in Ohio and Missouri.
Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R) (AP Photo/Andrew Welsh-Huggins, File)

Republican lawmakers in two states are moving to raise the threshold by which voters must approve constitutional amendments at the ballot box, in apparent efforts to preempt new campaigns to enshrine abortion rights over the wishes of conservative legislatures.

The Missouri House on Tuesday approved a measure raising the threshold for future amendments to 57%, rather than a simple majority. If the state Senate approves the bill, Missouri voters would be asked to approve the amendment on the November 2024 ballot.

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