Uphill battles over abortion unlikely to end even if ballot measures pass

Voters in nine states are deciding next month whether to add the right to abortion to their constitutions, but the measures are unlikely to dramatically change access — at least not immediately.

Instead, voter approval would launch more lawsuits on a subject that's been in the courts constantly — and more than ever since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade and opened the door to state abortion laws. In some states where the issue is on the ballot, it's already widely available.