2018 West Virginia Amendment 1
November 6, 2018
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To amend the West Virginia Constitution to clarify that nothing in the Constitution of West Virginia secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion. | |||||||||||||||||||
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The 2018 West Virginia No Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment, also known as Amendment 1, was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that appeared on the ballot in the U.S. state of West Virginia on November 6, 2018.[1] The measure amended the Constitution of West Virginia to remove any and all protections for abortion access and prohibited state funding for abortions. It was approved by 52% of voters.[2]
The amendment did not prohibit abortion itself in West Virginia.[3] The measure overturned Women's Health Center of West Virginia v. Panepinto, a 1993 state supreme court case which required the state to use Medicaid funds for abortions when necessary.[4] In September 2022, following the Dobbs decision, West Virginia lawmakers passed a near-total abortion ban.[5]
Endorsements
[edit]Organizations
U.S. senators
- Joe Manchin, incumbent U.S. Senator (2010-present), former Governor of West Virginia (2005-2010), and former West Virginia Secretary of State (2001-2005)[7]
Newspapers and other media
Results
[edit]| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 Yes
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297,042 | 51.72 |
| No | 277,330 | 48.28 |
| Total votes | 574,372 | 100.00 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Senate Joint Resolution 12". West Virginia Legislature. February 6, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
- ^ Ravitz, Jessica (November 7, 2018). "Two states passed abortion amendments to their constitutions in the midterm. What does that mean?". CNN. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
- ^ Allen Adams, Steven (November 18, 2018). "Amendment 1 Has Passed; What Now?". The Intelligencer. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
- ^ McElhinny, Brad (November 6, 2018). "Voters approve Amendment One abortion issue". WV MetroNews. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
- ^ "West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signs abortion ban into law". POLITICO. Associated Press. September 16, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
- ^ Mancini, Jess (July 18, 2018). "West Virginia's GOP endorses anti-abortion measure". The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
- ^ Freddoso, David (November 1, 2018). "Joe Manchin will vote against West Virginia's pro-life ballot referendum". Washington Examiner. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
- ^ "Gazette endorsement: Vote against Amendment 1; it is unwise and cruel". Charleston Gazette-Mail. October 19, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
- ^ "Our view: No on Amendment 1, yes on 2". The Herald-Dispatch. October 22, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
- ^ "Amendment No. 1: No Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment". West Virginia Secretary of State. January 16, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2025.