Indiana becomes first state to approve a near-total abortion ban since Roe v. Wade overturned: Republicans say it is ‘the most pro-life state in the nation’

  • Politicians in Indiana on Friday voted to restrict access to abortion – the first state legislature to pass new rulings since the overturn of Roe v Wade
  • Other states have already ended access to abortion thanks to pre-existing rules that clicked into place when Roe v. Wade was upended on June 24 
  • The ban includes limited exceptions, including in cases of rape and incest, and to protect the life and physical health of the mother
  • Pro-life activists said the law did not go far enough; pro-choice demonstrators said it was too excessive 

Indiana’s legislature became the first in the nation on Friday to pass new legislation restricting access to abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Other states have already banned abortion, thanks to pre-existing ‘trigger laws’ that went into effect when Roe was repealed, but Indiana is the first to usher in a new law.

The measure now goes to Republican Governor Eric Holcomb, who has not indicated whether he will sign it.

The ban includes limited exceptions, including in cases of rape and incest, and to protect the life and physical health of the mother.

The exceptions for rape and incest are limited to 10 weeks post-fertilization, meaning victims could not get an abortion in Indiana after that.

Victims would not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack.

Indiana was among the earliest Republican-run state legislatures to debate tighter abortion laws after the Supreme Court ruling on June 24 that removed constitutional protections for the procedure.

It is the first state to pass a ban through both chambers, after West Virginia lawmakers on July 29 passed up the chance to be that state.

The debates come amid an evolving landscape of abortion politics across the country as Republicans face some party divisions and Democrats see a possible election-year boost.

The Indiana Senate approved the near-total ban 28-19, hours after House members advanced it 62-38.