As New Yorkers prepare for the first day of early voting on Saturday, the state's attorney general, Letitia James, is urging voters to vote "yes" on a measure that would enshrine the right to abortion in New York's constitution.
The measure, known as Proposition 1 or the Equal Rights Amendment, would prohibit any form of discrimination based on "pregnancy outcomes" or "gender expression." While it does not explicitly mention abortion, proponents of the measure say that it would have a practical effect on protecting reproductive rights in light of the Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
"Tomorrow is the first day of early voting in New York, and abortion is on the ballot," James, a Democrat, wrote in a post to X (formerly Twitter) Friday afternoon. "When you go vote, flip over your ballot and vote 'YES' on Prop 1 to enshrine the right to abortion in our state constitution. It's your body. It should always be your choice."
The issue of abortion has become a winning message for Democrats in recent election years. Vice President Kamala Harris has promised to enshrine reproductive rights into federal law if elected to the White House in November.
Former President Donald Trump, who appointed three of the six conservative Supreme Court justices that ultimately overturned Roe, has said that he believes the issue should be left to the states to determine. He has also said that he does not support a federal abortion ban, as some of his fellow Republicans have pushed.
Early voting opens up in New York on Saturday, October 26, and lasts until Sunday, November 3. In addition to Proposition 1, voters who live in New York City will also cast a ballot on five citywide proposals that deal with the city's governing charter.
In New York, opponents of Proposition 1 argue that the language of the measure is too vague, and would have an impact on transgender issues in the state as well. In an email to Newsweek back in May, David Laska, director of communications for the state's Republican Party, said that if passed, the measure would "permit the state to transition impressionable children without parental knowledge or consent."
While abortion is currently legal in New York up until the 24th week of pregnancy, supporters of Proposition 1 say that it is necessary to enshrine the measure into the state's constitution to protect the procedure from future politicians who may oppose it.
New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul has backed Proposition 1, as has the League of Women Voters, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP. In a poll conducted by Siena College between October 13 and 17, the measure earned overwhelming support, with 69 percent of likely voters backing it compared to the 22 percent who said they plan to vote no.
Newsweek reached out to the New York Republican Party and the New York Democratic Party via email Friday for additional comment.
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