For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 23, 2023
Contact: [email protected], (702) 373-7811

SJR 7 proposes a constitutional amendment to protect reproductive freedom in Nevada

Carson City, NV — This morning, local and national advocates for abortion rights and reproductive freedom convened a press conference about the introduction of Senate Joint Resolution 7 by Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro and new polling showing widespread support for the constitutional amendment. The constitutional amendment seeks to codify reproductive freedom into the state constitution including abortion, as well as the right to obtain birth control, prenatal care, childbirth care, postpartum care, vasectomy and tubal ligation, miscarriage management, and infertility care.

If passed during the 2023 and 2025 legislative sessions, the amendment would appear on the 2026 general election ballot.

Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro released the following statement:

“Nevadans deserve to make private reproductive health care decisions without the interference of politicians. Decisions about birth control, pregnancy, infertility treatments, prenatal or postnatal care, abortion, or miscarriage management should stay between patients and their doctors. The Supreme Court failed Nevadans by overturning Roe, but this resolution gives Nevadans a new opportunity to protect themselves and their reproductive freedoms in our state constitution.”

Lindsey Harmon, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada released the following statement:

“There is no shortage of examples pointing to the harm that abortion bans and limits to other reproductive health care have had across the United States since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer and we know that Nevada’s current protections, while incredibly helpful, are no guarantee against this new wave of attacks.

“This Constitutional Amendment is Nevada’s answer to these growing attacks against not just abortion, but all forms of reproductive health care. We wholeheartedly believe that Nevadans stand on the side of reproductive freedom and the ability to access the reproductive health care that meets their needs throughout their lives, free from political interference.”

Caroline Mello Roberson, Southwest Regional Director of NARAL Pro-Choice America released the following statement:

“Nevadans are battle born and feminist strong. We didn’t need polling to tell us this, but these numbers are further proof that, after decades of fighting for and expanding abortion access in the state, we’re ready to take the next step of cementing these protections into the state constitution. Voters not only support this amendment, but they’re also more motivated than ever to turn out and fight back for our right to access abortion, birth control, and more. We are thankful to Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro for introducing this historic legislation, and NARAL Pro-Choice Nevada and our 48,000 members are ready to get it done for the majority of Nevadans ready to take back power and affirm our most fundamental freedoms.”

Background on New Polling:

Nevadans have long been supportive of reproductive choice, and the time is ripe for voters to put these values into the constitution.

• Over 60% of voters support abortion being legal in all or most cases, including 67% of Latino/a voters, 67% of Black voters and 71% Independent voters.
• 4-in-5 voters want the government to stay out of the decision, including 83% of Latino/a voters, 86% of Black voters and 88% of Independent voters.

All tested versions of the ballot condensation have broad and strong support. They all start at or above 60% yes—and remain at or above 50% in every point in the poll, even after voters have only heard messaging against the potential ballot.

• And this is true whether we’re on the ballot in 2024 or 2026: each ballot receives over 60% yes vote initially and ends with at least 60% yes vote after hearing messaging from both sides, regardless of the electorate.
• Across all tested versions of the ballot, more than half of Independents, nearly two-thirds of voters under 45, and nearly 7-in-10 Black and Latino/a voters are voting yes.

Background on Abortion Laws in Nevada:

• Nevada voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum that locked protections for abortion access into state law in 1990. The constitutional amendment gives an additional layer of legal protection for the right to an abortion, as well as protects other aspects of reproductive care that anti-abortion politicians have made no secret of their desire to restrict—including birth control, miscarriage management, and infertility care.

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