What does a 'yes' or 'no' vote mean on Missouri's Amendment 3?

MISSOURI - Voters in Missouri have the choice to vote "yes" or "no" on Amendment 3, a ballot measure related to abortion.

Missouri is one of 10 states that has certified an amendment related to abortion to be included on the general election ballot.

What does a 'yes' vote mean?

A "yes" vote on Amendment 3 is in favor of overturning Missouri's current ban on abortion.

According to the ballot, a "yes" vote would allow a person to have the fundamental right to make and carry out decisions about matters relating to reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives. Any governmental interference would be considered invalid.

A "yes" vote would require the government not to discriminate in federal programs or funding against medical professional providing reproductive healthcare or those obtaining these services.

Additionally, a "yes" would only ban abortions after fetal viability or the point in which a fetus can survive outside the womb except to protect the life or health of the mother.

If this amendment is passed, the ballot measure may reduce local tax revenue while the impact on state tax revenue is unknown as stated on the official ballot.

What does a 'no' vote mean?

A "no" vote on Amendment 3 is in favor of sustaining Missouri's current ban on abortion.

According to the Missouri Constitution's 'Right to Life of the Unborn Child Act' no abortion shall be performed or induced upon a woman after conception, except in cases of medical emergency.

The constitution continues to say any person who knowingly performs or induces an abortion shall be guilty of a class B felony as well as possible suspension or revocation of their professional license by their licensing board.

A "no" vote would additionally continue Missouri's' requirement for patients to wait 72 hours and receive counseling prior to receiving an abortion. State law also requires minors seeking an abortion to have parental consent. Missouri Medicaid coverage and private health insurance are barred from being used toward an abortion with certain exceptions.

As written on ballots:

The official ballot is written as followed:

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:

• Establish a right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid;
• remove Missouri’s ban on abortion;
• allow regulation of reproductive health care to improve or maintain the health of the patient;
• require the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding, and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care; and
• allow abortion to be restricted or banned after Fetal Viability except to protect the life or health of the woman?

State governmental entities estimate no costs or savings, but unknown impact. Local governmental entities estimate costs of at least $51,000 annually in reduced tax revenues. Opponents estimate a potentially significant loss to state revenue.