Colorado Votes No On ‘Late-Term’ Abortion Ban

Among the many decisions Colorado voters faced this election cycle was proposition 115, or the late-term abortion ban, which would prohibit abortions after a fetus reaches 22 weeks gestational age. The phrase ‘late-term’ isn’t a medical one, according to reports from the Washington Post, but a political construct.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.3 percent of abortions were performed at or greater than 21 weeks of gestation in recent years. These procedures are typically performed on wanted pregnancies that, due to complications, will either result in the loss of the fetus or the endangerment of the mother.

“The voters of Colorado have spoken loudly and clearly—abortion bans have no place in our state,” says Lucy Olena, campaign manager for the No on 115 campaign. “For the fourth time in 12 years, Coloradans have rejected attempts to ban abortion at the ballot, trusting patients and families to make the personal medical decisions that are right for them, without interference from politicians.”

After spending months educating voters about the intentionally confusing abortion ban on the November ballot, the co-chairs of the No on 115 campaign thanked Coloradans for voting their values and rejecting the deceptive ballot measure.

“Our organizations worked day and night to protect abortion access in Colorado,” said Amanda Henderson, executive director for Interfaith Alliance of Colorado and co-chair of the No on 115 campaign.

“Colorado voters know there is nothing reasonable about denying people access to essential medical care. With this vote, Coloradans have spoken: it is time to move beyond the bans and support expanding reproductive rights and abortion access. We are proud Colorado voters saw Proposition 115 for exactly what it was—a cruel, one-size-fits-all ban on abortion that would have harmed patients and families.”

“Today, we can proudly confirm that Colorado remains a safe haven for access to the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion care. Once again, Colorado voters confirmed what we have always known: that health care decisions belong between a patient and their health care provider, without political interference,” says Vicki Cowart, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Action Fund, in a statement.

As the national fight over abortion access intensifies, with the Supreme Court poised to take up a case that could potentially overturn Roe v. Wade, this victory in Colorado sends a strong message to the nation. The fight to protect abortion access does not end with this victory. In fact, it’s just the beginning. Campaign leaders built a coalition of more than 1,000 volunteers, hundreds of organizations, and individual supporters, and are committed to ensuring that every Coloradan has access to reproductive healthcare and moving Beyond the Bans.