Michigan Voters Overwhelmingly Support Abortion Rights in 2022 Election

Yesterday, Michigan voters elected reproductive and sexual health champions across Michigan and overwhelmingly supported Proposal 3, permanently restoring the protections of Roe statewide and solidifying Michigan’s status as an access point for sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion. The election results send a definitive message to lawmakers in Michigan and across the nation – health care decisions are personal and private, and there is no room for politicians in our exam rooms.

Michigan’s Proposal 3 passed, making history as the first state in the nation to pass a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to reproductive freedom. Proposal 3 will enshrine reproductive rights into the state constitution and ensure every person in Michigan has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including the right to make and carry out decisions without political interference about all matters relating to pregnancy, including birth control, abortion, prenatal care, and childbirth.

Support of reproductive rights and abortion access played a pivotal role in other key Michigan races. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan endorsed reproductive health champions Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, and other key state legislative candidates centered abortion rights in their campaigns and resonated with voters.

Statement from Nicole Wells Stallworth, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan

“With the loss of Roe v. Wade in June and the ongoing attacks on abortion access throughout Michigan, the Midwest, and the nation, this election was essential to protecting the fundamental rights of Michiganders. We know that Michigan voters support abortion access and are grateful they turned out to offer overwhelming support for Proposal 3 and PPAM-endorsed candidates.

Michigan has made history as the first state in the nation to pass an affirmative citizen-initiated constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to an abortion. But we will not be the last. This victory will provide a blueprint to other states looking to use the power of direct democracy to restore reproductive rights previously protected under Roe.

And we’re not slowing down here in Michigan. We look forward to working with state leaders like Governor Gretchen Whitmer to ensure that reproductive freedom is not a right in name only. Throughout her career, Governor Whitmer has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting Michigan citizens’ rights to essential, affordable, and accessible health care. We look forward to her ongoing leadership and fierce advocacy in the years to come.”

Statement from Paula Thornton Greear, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Michigan:

“Abortion access is a human right – and we are grateful that Michigan voters overwhelmingly supported Proposal 3, permanently enshrining these rights into our state constitution.

PPMI has been fighting to protect sexual and reproductive rights in Michigan for decades, and when we saw the end of Roe v. Wade on the horizon, we didn’t wait to take action. We immediately filed suit to protect health care access across our state and won an injunction barring enforcement of Michigan’s 1931 criminal abortion ban.

But we didn’t stop there. We continued to pursue every avenue to protect abortion rights in Michigan. With the passage of Proposal 3, Michiganders’ rights are more protected than ever and reproductive freedom is explicitly enshrined in the state constitution.

This historic victory will ensure that Planned Parenthood of Michigan can continue to provide the high-quality reproductive health care our patients depend on.”

Planned Parenthood offers affordable reproductive health care for all people through medical services, education and advocacy and is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider. Planned Parenthood of Michigan operates health centers across the state, providing medical services and sexuality education for nearly 60,000 Michiganders each year.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan (PPAM) is the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Michigan. PPAM works in conjunction with Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund at the national level, as well as our health center/education affiliate Planned Parenthood of Michigan, supporters, and patients at the state level to ensure access to reproductive health for all Michiganders.