On Tuesday, with over 60% of the vote, Louisiana voters approved Amendment 1 to their state constitution, a ballot initiative that proposed new language to the state’s Constitution banning any right to an abortion or funding of abortions, except in cases of life endangerment.
 
The following sentence will be added to the state's constitution: 'To protect human life, nothing in this constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.' This would come into play if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its Roe v. Wade decision that held that state laws criminalizing abortion violated the U.S. Constitution.
 
Amendment 1’s principal author Katrina Jackson, a pro-life Democrat, emphasized creating social programs that improve Louisianans lives, but held firm that she will advocate for life and against abortion. 
 
In an op-ed last month, Jackson wrote, “Our body of pro-life laws ensure that women are empowered with the truth about their pregnancy prior to an abortion, that minors seeking an abortion have parental consent, and that babies born alive following a botched abortion receive immediate medical care. Our law also makes sure that not a dollar of your state tax dollars fund abortion.”
 
The first such amendment in the country was adopted in Tennessee. Following Tennessee’s lead, West Virginia and Alabama have also done so. 

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