Kansans gear up to vote on abortion rights
WSU students are divided on abortion rights as the state’s primary grows closer.
With the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last week to overturn Roe v. Wade, the right to an abortion is now up to individual states. In Kansas, a proposed amendment to the state constitution would eliminate the right to an abortion, and citizens will vote for or against that amendment on Aug. 2.
Wichita State students are divided on the topic.
“We are so thankful that Roe is overturned,” Hayley Keiser, former WSU student and Shockers for Life member, said. “We’re still at the point where it goes state-to-state, and now . . . we need to work harder to be there for the women and the mothers and start helping them. . . . If they think they don’t have any options, we can tell them they do have options.”
While some viewed this overturn positively, others did not.
“I definitely think that Roe v. Wade was the floor for reproductive access and that being taken away has a lot more implications related to privacy and personal life choices whether or not they’re reproductive,” Delaney Jones, Intersectional Feminists On (and Off) Campus Uniting Students president, said.
In a concurring opinion with the Friday vote, Justice Clarence Thomas said the Court should reconsider other legal precedents that establish rights such as the right to contraception (Griswold v. Connecticut), same-sex sexual relations (Lawrence v. Texas), and same-sex marriage (Obergefell v. Hodges).
Many state legislatures had already begun reviewing abortion rights at the state level — with more conservative politicians anticipating the overturning of Roe, some states have immediate or soon-to-be laws to make abortion almost entirely illegal.
Louisana, Missouri and other states had trigger laws in place that made abortion illegal (except in the case to save a person’s life) immediately following the Supreme Court decision. States such as Oklahoma and Texas are poised to do the same.
What does that mean for Kansas?
As it stands right now, the right to an abortion is protected under the Kansas constitution; however, there are many restrictions. Before the procedure, patients must receive state-directed counseling that has information to discourage abortion. In addition, health or private insurance providers may only cover abortion in specific cases. Other restrictions can be found here.
On Aug. 2, Kansans will vote on whether or not the state constitution should continue to protect Kansans’ right to get an abortion. The amendment’s official name is “Kansas No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment.”
Voting “yes” means the state constitution should be amended to not guarantee the right to have an abortion or to require government funding for abortion. If the constitutional amendment does pass, abortion rights will be decided by the state legislature, currently led by Republicans. They will likely try to pass more restrictions on women’s health care.
“I think just making sure we really understand the original Constitution and follow it,” Erin Jacobson, Shockers for Life president, said. “I believe we are starting to create the side paths to get around the Constitution nowadays. People come to America for freedom, and we want to make sure we keep that freedom for all the citizens.”
A “no” vote opposes amending the state’s constitution, maintaining the legal precedent established by Hodes & Nauser, and maintaining the state’s constitutional guarantee of abortion. Right now in Kansas, abortion is only allowed up to 22 weeks of pregnancy, and in rare circumstances, abortion is legal after 22 weeks if the pregnant person’s life is in jeopardy.
Adriana Owens, at-large SGA senator, said she encourages everyone to vote “no” on Aug. 2.
“Our state and local governments are the only protection we have to keep the right to safe abortion for anyone with a uterus. The constitutional amendment on the Kansas ballot will mandate government control over private medical decisions and pave the way for a total ban on abortion with no exception for rape, incest or the health of the pregnant person.”
Citizens have to be registered by July 12 to vote in the primaries on Aug. 2. Information to register can be found at https://www.kdor.ks.gov/Apps/VoterReg/.
Regardless of the political party (or lack thereof), everyone registered before July 12 can vote in the Aug. 2 primary. Registering to vote after July 12 will secure eligibility to vote in future primaries/elections; however, voting in the Aug. 2 primary will be out of reach.
Those interested in early voting can find more information at https://www.vote411.org/kansas. Early voting will start on July 13 and will go until Aug. 1
Want to find where you can vote in person? Go to https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/.
Mia Hennen is the current editor in chief for The Sunflower. Before becoming editor, Hennen was the news/managing editor. They are a junior at Wichita...
Thy Vo has been the advertisement manager and design director for The Sunflower for two years. Vo is a senior majoring in graphic design and minoring in...
Sam McCrory • Jun 29, 2022 at 5:14 pm
I’ve given the proposed “Value Them Both” Amendment a lot of thought.
On the one hand, it doesn’t go nearly far enough. Infanticide, medically termed abortion, should not be treated any different than what it is: a particularly heinous form of premeditated murder. The mother who murdered her child, whomever paid for it, whomever drove the mother to the abortion mill, and the physician involved in any abortion should be publicly tried under the state 1st-degree murder statute. THAT is the proper solution to this roe-v-wade mess. Unfortunately there are too many state legislators who are impotent cowards to make that happen this election cycle.
On the other hand, the proposed amendment would reduce the number of child murders in Kansas, which is an dramatic improvement to the 49-year-long selfish and bloody murder spree.
Vote yes on August 2.
ACryinLion • Jun 29, 2022 at 2:23 pm
When I was 15 years old, I got my then girlfriend pregnant. The whirlwind of emotions I felt when she told me the news was near unbearable. I could not even fathom how she must have felt. But I was terrified. Terrified to face our parents. Terrified of the responsibility that was about to be thrust upon me. And quite honestly, terrified that I would never get to have “fun” again.
Her and I both “decided” that the best option for us would be for her to get an early-term abortion. But that’s not really true. Not at all. At that point in our relationship, she valued no opinion besides her own more highly than my own. Perhaps even more so. She had stars in her eyes for me and I knew full well the power I commanded over her.
I have very few regrets in life. Very, very few. And my life has been a life well lived. But this and the way I treated that poor girl is My biggest regret. Maybe even my only one, real regret. I have been forever tarnished. And no matter how much I praise God and beg his forgiveness, I know in my heart, that I don’t deserve it. As long as I draw breath, my hands, heart and soul feel forever stained.
Ladies, don’t be a coward like I was. There is always a better option than abortion. Don’t be afraid and ashamed of what others might think. Whether they be your parents, friends, or significant others; let the judgements they cast upon you be damned. No matter how hopeless the situation may seem at the time, support is out there and a proper solution can be found. Life is beautiful and precious and absolutely nothing should stand in the way of its fruition. God bless you all.
Erin Jacobson • Jun 29, 2022 at 1:36 pm
The pro-life community understands that there has been some traumatic event in the lives of pro-abortion members and that is why they choose that side. We believe all lives are worth saving and there are organizations out there to help both the baby and the mother so they don’t have to go through the tremendous guilt of having an abortion. We love everyone and want to share the truth! Thank you Mia for sharing both sides!