The abortion-related ballot measure in Kentucky is a little difficult to explain. Neither a ban nor a protection on abortion rights, it instead would have explicitly prevented the state’s constitution from ever being interpreted as protecting abortion rights. But 52.5 percent of Kentucky voters rejected that proposal.
While this definitely counts as a win for abortion-rights supporters, it also doesn’t have any immediate impact on abortion access in the state. A near-total abortion ban approved by state lawmakers is currently before the state Supreme Court, and the measure is up for a hearing next week. There are two remaining abortion clinics in Kentucky, but neither has been able to provide abortions since this past summer, when the court ruled that the ban could remain in effect while it reviewed challenges.
Given the confusing nature of this ballot measure and the not-exactly-clear messaging from both sides about what it would do, it’s even a little hard to say what the rejection of the measure tells us about Kentucky voters and their beliefs. It is, however, in keeping with a long-standing nationwide norm — voters prefer the status quo and just tend to reject ballot measures of all kinds.