Wichita Residents Line Up to Cast Their Votes in Kansas Abortion Rights Referendum
Kansas residents voted to protect abortion rights in the state in a referendum held on August 2, local media reported.
According to an AP estimate, 58.8 percent of voters voted no to a constitutional amendment restriction abortion access. The amendment, dubbed “Value Them Both,” would have affirmed the lack of a constitutional right to abortion in the state and would have meant laws to regulate abortion could be passed by state legislators, according to the official ballot.
According to the ballot, a vote against the amendment “would make no changes to the constitution of the state of Kansas, and could restrict the people, through their elected state legislators, from regulating abortion by leaving in place the recently recognized right to abortion.”
The state was the first to vote on the issue of abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v Wade.
This footage was published by The Wichita Beacon reporter Trace Alan Salzbrenner, and shows voters in Wichita lining up to cast their votes. Credit: Trace Salzbrenner/The Wichita Beacon via Storyful
Video Transcript
- I have thought about this a lot knowing that this is where I vote, but it really hit me when I walked in the doors that this is the exact place where Dr. George Tiller was murdered by a crazy abortion fanatic, anti-abortion fanatic. And I know it was over 10 years ago I'm not sure exactly how long. But I just, I guess I pray that the amendment fails and that he is looking down on us and so happy for all the young women, all the women in the world, in Kansas, that won't to have their reproductive rights taken away from them?
- What is your name and what got you out to vote today?
COURTNEY HAMILTON: Courtney Hamilton and there's a pretty big topic being voted on today. So that's why I'm out.
DWAYNE CHENEY: My name is Dwayne Cheney and I came out to vote for the rights of the people. Because I feel like people should have a right to an abortion or not. I don't want the government making decisions for me.
ALEXANDRA SIMPSON: My name is Alexandra Simpson. I came out to vote to protect my body and my rights.
SPENCER O'DANIEL: I'm Spencer O'Daniel and I live in Wichita, Kansas.
- And why did you come out to vote today? I came out to vote today just to practice my civic duty of a controversial issue having to do with amending the abortion rights in Kansas. And I felt like it's my duty, regardless of age, to get out and voice my opinion and vote as someone in their 30s.
