West Virginia lawmakers approve near-total abortion ban

On Tuesday, West Virginia lawmakers in the United States approved a broad abortion ban (September 13). The bill makes abortion illegal even during the first trimester of pregnancy. There are some exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s health is at risk.

Legislators have now approved the bill, which will be sent to Governor Jim Justice for signature. This is the second abortion ban enacted by a state since the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade.

Governor Jim Justice is expected to sign the legislation

Governor Jim Justice is expected to sign the legislation passed by the legislature. The measure comes as disagreements within the Republican Party over the degree of strictness of abortion bans begin to emerge. As the midterm elections approach, this could become a major political issue. The outcome of these elections will determine who controls the US Congress.

For years, the Republican Party, a largely conservative political force in the United States, has campaigned to restrict abortion access. However, the defeat of a ballot initiative to ban abortions in deeply conservative Kansas has caused some Republicans to back off the issue for fear of alienating female voters.

The landmark Roe v Wade decision had provided American women with constitutionally protected access to abortion. However, the decision was overturned by the conservative-majority US Supreme Court in June of this year. Since then, a number of states in the United States have moved to severely restrict or prohibit abortion access.