Several US states expand abortion rights while Florida measure fails

Several U.S. states have expanded abortion rights, while Florida voters rejected a measure to increase access. This follows the Supreme Court's 2022 decision that left abortion laws to individual states. Ten states had ballot initiatives related to abortion. In Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, and New York, voters approved measures to protect or extend abortion rights. For example, Arizona now allows abortions until about 24 weeks, up from a previous 15-week limit. Missouri also eased its strict abortion ban. In contrast, Florida's Amendment 4, which aimed to allow abortions until fetal viability, failed to meet the required 60% approval, receiving only 57%. This marks the first defeat for a pro-abortion rights measure since the Supreme Court's ruling.