Yes on Proposition 1
Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom
What is it?
Proposition 1 is a Legislative Constitutional Amendment which will enshrine the right to privacy of reproductive choice into the California constitution. California State law already protects the right to privacy of reproductive choice. Proposition 1 will change the California Constitution to say that the state cannot deny or interfere with a person’s reproductive freedom and that people have the fundamental right to choose whether or not to have an abortion, and whether or not to use contraceptives.
In June 2022, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the US Constitution does not protect the right to privacy of reproductive choices and does not protect the right to seek and obtain abortions, regardless of the health impacts to the mother.
Why is this on the ballot?
According to Article XVIII of the California Constitution, amendments to the California Constitution initiated by the State Legislature must first be approved by a supermajority of both houses and the amendment must then be approved by voters with a simple majority of 50% + 1.
- Sponsor: Senator Toni Atkins
- Placed on ballot by: Vote of both houses of the California State Legislature
- View vote details on leginfo
Fiscal impacts
No fiscal impacts because these rights already exist in California, and nothing needs to be implemented other than updating the text of the Constitution.
Why vote Yes?
If you believe people have a fundamental right to reproductive freedom “which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives,” vote YES on Prop 1.
If passed, Prop 1 would guarantee that right at the highest level for California. No person, no state law and no local legislation may violate that right. Prop 1 aligns with existing state rights to privacy and equal protection and would ensure that regardless of who or what party controls the government or the courts in California, the right to an abortion is protected.
More importantly this constitutional amendment would act as a critical legal shield against any conflicting federal law. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has introduced a federal ban on abortion. If this or another similar national abortion ban passes in the future, California can challenge the applicability of that federal law within our state borders. Having a state constitutional guarantee is the strongest defense against a nationwide abortion ban.
Proposition 1 proponents Senator Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California President and CEO Jodi Hicks issued the following statement:
News of Senator Graham’s federal abortion ban, while despicable, comes as no surprise. This is nothing other than a desperate power grab to outlaw abortion in states like California, that stand strong in our convictions to offer safe and reproductive health care to those who need it most. California will not be bullied by right wing extremists looking to chip away at our fundamental rights. That’s why we’ve joined together to enshrine abortion rights into the California Constitution with Proposition 1 this fall. Now more than ever, we must show the rest of the country that we cannot go backward, that we must affirm abortion rights and we must protect the most vulnerable among us.