The state of Iowa has implemented one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, banning almost all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The legislation, which allows the procedure only until early signs of cardiac activity can be detected in a fetus or embryo, has exceptions for cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormalities, and when the mother’s life is in danger.
This Republican-enacted ban was initially blocked after its passage last year, but was upheld by the state’s highest court last month. The law now joins a growing list of Midwestern states, including Missouri and South Dakota, that have enacted similar restrictions since the national right to abortion access was lost two years ago.
The ban is expected to force Iowa residents to seek care in neighboring Democrat-led states that have maintained or expanded abortion access. Governors Tim Walz of Minnesota and JB Pritzker of Illinois have both expressed support for their neighbors and vowed to protect reproductive freedom.
Despite the ban, polls show that nearly two-thirds of Iowans believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases. The Center for Reproductive Rights has vowed to continue fighting for abortion access and to protect individuals’ rights to make decisions about their own bodies.
With the November general election approaching, Democrats are rallying voters around support for abortion rights. Vice-President Kamala Harris, the expected presidential candidate, has promised to restore reproductive rights, while Republican candidate Donald Trump has taken credit for ending Roe v. Wade and believes the issue of abortion should be decided by individual states.
Since Roe’s repeal, 22 states have enacted restrictions on abortion, affecting more than one in three American women. The battle over abortion rights continues to be a contentious issue in the United States.
