Wikipedia

2024 Maryland Question 1

The 2024 Maryland Question 1 was a voter referendum that appeared on the ballot on November 5, 2024. It established in the Constitution of Maryland a right to reproductive freedom. The referendum was approved overwhelmingly, with more than three times as many voters voting in favor of it than against it, and only losing in Garrett County.

2024 Maryland Question 1
November 5, 2024
Declaration of Rights - Right to Reproductive Freedom
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 2,199,319 76.06%
No 692,219 23.94%
Valid votes 2,891,538 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00%
Total votes 2,891,538 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 4,204,572 72.84%

Ballot measure

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The ballot measure reads as follows:[1]

Question 1
Constitutional Amendment

The proposed amendment confirms an individual's fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including, but not limited to, the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end the individual's pregnancy, and provides that the State may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden, or abridge the right, unless justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

The choices read as follows:[1]

For the Constitutional Amendment
Against the Constitutional Amendment

History

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In 1992, Maryland voters approved Question 6, which upheld a state law to codify Roe v. Wade and guaranteed the right to an abortion, with 62 percent of voters approving the measure and 38 percent opposed.[2]

In August 2018, Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Michael E. Busch endorsed efforts to codify the right to an abortion into the state constitution, citing fears that the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn its ruling in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which held that the U.S. Constitution protected a woman's right to have an abortion.[3][4] Republican Governor Larry Hogan, who personally opposes abortion, expressed support for the measure, but also questioned if a constitutional amendment to codify abortion protections was necessary.[5] During the 2019 legislative session, Busch introduced legislation to create a 2020 referendum on enshrining abortion protects into the state constitution, but he withdrew it early into the session after Senate President Thomas V. Miller Jr. said he was reluctant to move it forward, following protests against late-term abortion bills in New York and Virginia.[6]

In May 2019, following the election of Adrienne A. Jones as House Speaker, and after the Alabama General Assembly passed the Human Life Protection Act, Jones said she would continue Busch's efforts to enshrine abortion protection into the state constitution.[7] As the Supreme Court began considering Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022, she introduced legislation to create a referendum on codifying abortion rights,[8] which passed the Maryland House of Delegates by a 93–42 vote,[9][10] but the bill died in the Maryland Senate after Senate President Bill Ferguson declined to put it up for a vote.[11] The legislature also passed the Abortion Care Access Act, which provided $3.5 million toward clinical training for reproductive services, which became law after lawmakers overrode Governor Hogan's veto on the bill.[12]

In June 2022, after the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs, and overturned Roe and Casey, Jones committed to re-introducing the bill during the 2023 legislative session. The court's ruling also made relevant the issue of abortion in the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election, with all Democratic candidates promising to support Jones' measure; Republican candidate Kelly Schulz said that she was "personally pro-life", but would not change "current Maryland law" toward abortion if elected governor, while her challenger, far-right state delegate Dan Cox, celebrated the Dobbs decision and vowed to end taxpayer funding for abortions as governor.[13]

 
Governor Wes Moore holds a press conference to endorse bills protecting abortion rights, 2023

During the 2023 legislative session, Jones again introduced legislation to enshrine abortion protections into the state constitution,[14] which passed, and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore, along with a package of bills to protect patients who come to Maryland seeking abortion rights from out-of-state criminal prosecution.[15][16]

House vote

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The amendment was approved by the House on March 10, 2023, with 99 yeas, 37 nays, and 4 absent delegates.[17] Before the vote, Republicans unsuccessfully sought to amend the bill, with state delegate William J. Wivell introducing two amendments to give constitutional protections to the "preborn" and another replacing the phrase "reproductive freedom" with "abortion", and state delegate April Fleming Miller introducing an amendment replacing the word "person" with "woman"; all three amendments were defeated in party-line votes.[18]

 
Map of the vote
  Democratic yea (99)
  Democratic absentees (2)
  Republican nay (37)
  Republican absentees (2)
  Vacant seat (1)
House of Delegates
Party Votes for Votes against Absent
Democratic (102)
99
 –
2
Republican (39) –
37
2
Total (140)[a] 99 37 4

Senate vote

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The amendment was approved by the Senate on March 31, 2023, with 33 yeas and 14 nays.[19] Republican state senator Bryan Simonaire introduced an amendment to ban abortions after fetal viability, which failed by a vote of 13–33, and another amendment to the Senate crossfile version of the bill that would exclude gender-affirming surgery for minors without parental consent under the bill's definition of reproductive freedom, which was rejected by a vote of 14–32.[20]

 
Map of the vote
  Democratic yea (33)
  Democratic nay (1)
  Republican nay (13)
Senate
Party Votes for Votes against Abstentions
Democratic (34)
33
1
 –
Republican (13) –
13
 –
Total (47) 33 14 0

Campaign

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Question 1 was supported by Freedom in Reproduction — Maryland, which was made up of leaders from organizations including Planned Parenthood Maryland, the Baltimore Abortion Fund, and the Women's Law Center of Maryland. It was opposed by Health Not Harm MD, which was chaired by Deborah Brocato, a lobbyist for Maryland Right to Life.[21][22] After President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 United States presidential election, supporters of Question 1 reported an increase in people interested in volunteering for efforts to support the ballot initiative.[23] As of October 2024, pro-Question 1 groups have outraised and outspent the referendum's opponents 5-to-1.[24]

Abortion access is widely popular in Maryland, and, as such, an intense campaign focused on Question 1 similar to the one advocates faced in 1992 was considered to be unlikely.[24] The amendment's opponents claimed that its passage would allow children to receive gender-affirming care without their parents' consent; the amendment's supporters, including former Maryland First Lady Katie O'Malley, have called this a misinterpretation of the amendment's language, saying that it would only apply to issues like abortion, birth control, and In vitro fertilisation.[25]

The issue of abortion became a key issue in the concurrent 2024 United States Senate election in Maryland, in which Democratic nominee Angela Alsobrooks heavily criticized Republican nominee Larry Hogan for his 2022 veto of the Abortion Care Access Act.[24] Despite this, both candidates said they would vote for Question 1.[26][27]

Endorsements

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Yes

U.S. Executive Branch officials

U.S. Senators

U.S. Representatives

Statewide elected officials

State senators

State delegates

County officials

Municipal officials

Party officials

Individuals

Organizations

No

State senators

State delegates

Individuals

Organizations

Opinion polls

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Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[b] 		Margin
of error 		For Against Other/
Undecided
YouGov[49][c] October 23–27, 2024 500 (LV) ± 5.2% 75% 18% 7%[d]
University of Maryland, Baltimore County[50] September 23–28, 2024 862 (LV) ± 3.3% 69% 21% 10%
OpinionWorks[51] October 20–23, 2022 982 (LV) ± 3.1% 71% 19% 11%
University of Maryland[52] September 22–27, 2022 810 (RV) ± 4.0% 78% 16% 5%

Results

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2024 Maryland Question 1
Choice Votes %
  Yes 2,199,319 76.06
No 692,219 23.94
Total votes 2,891,538 100.00

Source: Maryland State Board of Elections[53][54]

By county

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By county
Breakdown of voting by county[55]
County Yes No Margin TotalVotes
# % # % # %
Allegany 16,783 55.19% 13,625 44.81% 3,158 10.39% 30,408
Anne Arundel 216,940 72.89% 80,683 27.11% 136,257 45.78% 297,623
Baltimore City 188,398 86.50% 29,407 13.50% 158,991 73.00% 217,805
Baltimore 300,431 76.56% 91,985 23.44% 208,446 53.12% 392,416
Calvert 33,783 65.62% 17,700 34.38% 16,083 31.24% 51,483
Caroline 9,300 59.65% 6,290 40.35% 3,010 19.31% 15,590
Carroll 59,926 60.70% 38,793 39.30% 21,133 21.41% 98,719
Cecil 31,251 64.30% 17,350 35.70% 13,901 28.60% 48,601
Charles 69,395 77.91% 19,671 22.09% 49,724 55.83% 89,066
Dorchester 10,718 67.59% 5,140 32.41% 5,578 35.17% 15,858
Frederick 102,787 68.65% 46,937 31.35% 55,850 37.30% 149,724
Garrett 6,773 44.81% 8,342 55.19% -1,569 -10.38% 15,115
Harford 97,082 66.70% 48,465 33.30% 48,617 33.40% 145,547
Howard 139,939 79.37% 36,365 20.63% 103,574 58.75% 176,304
Kent 7,773 72.58% 2,937 27.42% 4,836 45.15% 10,710
Montgomery 404,351 82.35% 86,641 17.65% 317,710 64.71% 490,992
Prince George's 335,057 87.83% 46,419 12.17% 288,638 75.66% 381,476
Queen Anne's 19,647 63.44% 11,322 36.56% 8,325 26.88% 30,969
St. Mary's 35,907 63.81% 20,362 36.19% 15,545 27.63% 56,269
Somerset 5,463 57.57% 4,027 42.43% 1,436 15.13% 9,490
Talbot 14,992 67.56% 7,199 32.44% 7,793 35.12% 22,191
Washington 43,011 62.96% 25,305 37.04% 17,706 25.92% 68,316
Wicomico 29,420 64.71% 16,042 35.29% 13,378 29.43% 45,462
Worcester 20,192 64.30% 11,212 35.70% 8,980 28.60% 31,404
Total 2,199,319 76.06% 692,219 23.94% 1,507,100 52.12% 2,891,538

By congressional district

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"Yes" won all 8 congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.[56]

District Yes No Representative
1st 65% 35% Andy Harris
2nd 74% 26% Dutch Ruppersberger (118th Congress)
Johnny Olszewski (119th Congress)
3rd 75% 25% John Sarbanes (118th Congress)
Sarah Elfreth (119th Congress)
4th 87% 13% Glenn Ivey
5th 77% 23% Steny Hoyer
6th 68% 32% David Trone (118th Congress)
April McClain-Delaney (119th Congress)
7th 84% 16% Kweisi Mfume
8th 83% 17% Jamie Raskin

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ At the time of the vote, District 16 had one vacancy.
  2. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  3. ^ Poll sponsored by the University of Maryland, College Park.
  4. ^ 1% with "Would not vote on this ballot measure"

References

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  1. ^ a b Lee, Susan C. (July 17, 2023). "Ballot Language Certification" (PDF). Office of the Maryland Secretary of State. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  2. ^ Tapscott, Richard (November 4, 1992). "Md. back measure on abortion rights". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Cox, Erin (August 3, 2018). "With fate of U.S. abortion rights unclear, Md. House speaker aims to strengthen state protections". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Hellmann, Jessie (August 2, 2018). "Maryland House speaker pushes to protect abortion access in state constitution". The Hill. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  5. ^ Dresser, Michael (2 August 2018). "Maryland Democrats call for state constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion rights". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  6. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta (February 23, 2019). "Maryland House speaker to withdraw bill to enshrine abortion protections". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  7. ^ Witte, Brian (May 17, 2019). "New Maryland speaker says she'll likely push to protect abortion rights". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  8. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (February 15, 2022). "Jones Seeks Constitutional Amendment to Strengthen Abortion Rights in Maryland". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Stole, Bryn (March 11, 2022). "Maryland House votes to add abortion rights to state constitution, expand access to abortion". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  10. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 10, 2022). "After Republican Amendment Attempts, House Moves Forward with Abortion Access Bills". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  11. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 26, 2022). "Legislative Roundup: Single Abortion Bill Advances in Senate, Hogan Keeps the Money Flowing, Plus Caucus News". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  12. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (April 9, 2022). "With Legislative Overrides, Paid Leave and Abortion Access Bills Become Law in Maryland". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Gaskill, Hannah; Janesch, Sam (June 24, 2022). "Some Maryland politicians, candidates for governor vow to strengthen state abortion laws in wake of Roe decision". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  14. ^ Zorzi, William F. (February 7, 2023). "General Assembly will consider bills to enshrine reproductive rights in the Maryland Constitution". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  15. ^ Brown, Danielle J. (May 3, 2023). "Moore declares Maryland a 'safe haven' for abortion access; approves protections for trans health care". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Gaskill, Hannah (May 3, 2023). "Gov. Wes Moore signs bills ensuring health care access for women, transgender Marylanders". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  17. ^ "Voting Report - HB705" (PDF). Maryland General Assembly. March 10, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  18. ^ Sears, Bryan P. (March 8, 2023). "Abortion rights amendment to state constitution clears hurdle in the House". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  19. ^ "Voting Report - HB705" (PDF). Maryland General Assembly. March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  20. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 10, 2023). "Abortion referendum bill advances, would give voters choice in 2024 of enshrining access in state constitution". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Wood, Pamela (January 22, 2024). "Advocates for reproductive choice kick off campaign for 2024 ballot question". Baltimore Banner. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  22. ^ Witte, Brian (January 22, 2024). "Abortion rights supporters launch campaign for Maryland constitutional amendment". Associated Press. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  23. ^ Brown, Danielle J. (August 8, 2024). "Will Harris' candidacy affect Maryland's reproductive freedom referendum?". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d Janesch, Sam (October 16, 2024). "Abortion rights group outraises opponents, spends big on ad campaign supporting Maryland ballot question". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  25. ^ a b c Conrad, Brooke (June 14, 2024). "Maryland abortion-rights opponents say amendment is "Trojan horse"; supporters say passage is critical". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  26. ^ a b Broadwater, Luke (May 16, 2024). "Hogan Backs Codifying Roe, Tacking Left on Abortion Ahead of a Tough Race". New York Times. Retrieved May 16, 2024. also said he would vote to enshrine abortion rights in the state's Constitution, a measure that will be on the ballot in November
  27. ^ a b Hollingsworth, Catherine; Newby, Tori (June 6, 2024). "A look at local issues in the Maryland U.S. Senate race". The Bowie Sun. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Reproductive Freedom for All [@reproforall] (September 9, 2024). "This weekend @mintimm joined @mocowdc to #mobilizeMD for reproductive freedom! Thank you @jamie_raskin, @AlsobrooksForMD, @BrookeELierman, @April4Congress, Liliana Katz-Hollander and Tazeen Ahmad for fighting for @mdreprofreedom and Marylanders' right to abortion. #VoteYeson1" (Tweet). Retrieved September 9, 2024 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (June 7, 2023). "Maryland Board of Public Works approves procurement of thousands of doses of abortion medication". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g Morton, Greg; Thompson, Kara (February 9, 2023). "Moore, Miller, legislative Democrats announce legislation protecting abortion rights". Capital News Service. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  31. ^ a b c d e Collins, David (February 9, 2023). "Package of abortion bills in Maryland includes constitutional amendment". WBAL-TV. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  32. ^ a b c Gaskill, Hannah (March 10, 2023). "Abortion referendum bill advances, would give voters choice in 2024 of enshrining access in state constitution". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  33. ^ a b c Kurtz, Josh (August 20, 2024). "Marylanders take fight for constitutional amendment on abortion to DNC". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  34. ^ Kurtz, Josh (October 14, 2024). "One night, two sites, two big Democratic fundraisers in Maryland". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  35. ^ a b c Gaskill, Hannah (September 18, 2024). "Baltimore Women's March advocates enshrining reproductive rights in state constitution". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  36. ^ Bush, Matt (March 8, 2023). "2024 Voter referendum on abortion rights gets first OK in Maryland General Assembly". WYPR. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  37. ^ Bixby, Ginny (September 10, 2024). "Sparks fly among activists, protesters following County Council approval of reproductive healthcare resolution". MoCo360. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  38. ^ Bixby, Ginny (October 30, 2024). "County faith leaders urge support for reproductive health care ballot question". MoCo360. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  39. ^ "Democratic Convention Notebook: Raskin's mustard, Colbert in town". Capital News Service. MarylandReporter.com. August 23, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  40. ^ "FFRF Action Fund grants support for 11 pro-abortion state referenda". ffrfaction.org. September 24, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  41. ^ "MSEA Delegates Vote to Take Position of Support on the Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment". Maryland State Education Association (Press release). April 22, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  42. ^ McCausland, Christianna (June 4, 2023). "Planned Parenthood of Maryland Battles New Threats to Reproductive Health Care". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  43. ^ "Maryland voters to see reproductive rights on 2024 ballot". Maryland Matters. March 31, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  44. ^ a b Ford, William J. (March 2, 2023). "Senate committee considers constitutional amendment on abortion rights a year after measure stalled in chamber". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  45. ^ Bixby, Ginny (February 19, 2024). "Race for GOP nomination heats up at Maryland 6th Congressional District forum". MoCo360. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  46. ^ a b c Gregory, Wilton; Lori, William; Koenig, William (May 8, 2024). "'Protect Women: Vote No' – a message from the Catholic bishops of Maryland". Catholic Standard. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  47. ^ Matysek, George P. Jr. (February 28, 2023). "More than 1,000 stand up for life at Maryland March for Life". Catholic Review. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  48. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 30, 2023). "Maryland voters expected to decide abortion access question on 2024 ballot". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  49. ^ "UMD APAN Oct 2024 Poll Survey Topline". University of Maryland Applied Political Analytics Program. November 1, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  50. ^ "UMBC Poll" (PDF). politics.umbc.edu. University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  51. ^ "Sun/UB Poll: Marylanders favor state constitutional amendment to strengthen abortion rights". 3 November 2022.
  52. ^ https://docs-cdn-prod.news-engineering.aws.wapo.pub/publish_document/5da75237-c1ab-4efe-9e18-a3d5f13ffb8d/published/5da75237-c1ab-4efe-9e18-a3d5f13ffb8d.pdf
  53. ^ "Unofficial 2024 Presidential General Election Results for All State Questions". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  54. ^ "Unofficial 2024 Presidential General Election turnout" (PDF). Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  55. ^ "Unofficial 2024 Presidential General Election Results for Question 1". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  56. ^ "Maryland State Board of Elections".
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