Kansans’ Decisive Defense of Abortion Rights Underscores the Power of the Vote

Voters in Kansas have overwhelmingly rejected an amendment to their State Constitution that would have removed the right to an abortion in the state. The decision is a significant victory for the abortion rights movement in one of the first state-level electoral contests over the issue since the U.S. Supreme Court voted in June to overturn Roe v. Wade. Voto Latino was actively engaged in voter outreach efforts to defeat this amendment.

In response to the news, Voto Latino president and CEO María Teresa Kumar issued the following statement:

“By decisively choosing to protect abortion rights in their state, Kansans came together to send a powerful message: When abortion is on the ballot, your vote matters,” said María Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino. “The Supreme Court’s despicable decision to overturn Roe v. Wade completely disregarded where the majority of Americans stand on abortion. To stop right-wing legislatures and Republican-appointed judges from continuing to march our country backward, we have to fight this battle at the ballot box. It’s a matter of life and death.

This result shows we can win. When abortion access is on the ballot in November and beyond, we can protect this fundamental human right by making our voices heard at the polls.”

The vote in Kansas mirrors recent Voto Latino polling showing that a strong majority of Latino voters (70%) in four key battleground states — Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Georgia — support protecting the right to choose.

A strong majority of respondents also said they could not support a candidate who supports policies banning all abortions, saying it would be a “deal-breaker” in all four states (Arizona 64%, Georgia 62%, Nevada 58%, and Pennsylvania 59%).

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Voto Latino is a grassroots political organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Through innovative digital campaigns, culturally relevant programs and authentic voices, we shepherd the Latinx community towards the full realization of its political power.