The State of Alabama passed an amendment to its constitution Tuesday that recognises the right to life of the unborn and clarifies that there is no right to abortion implicit in the document, nor any right to public funding for abortion. He amendment was passed by a majority vote of 60%.

Specifically, the text declares that “it is the public policy of this state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, most importantly the right to life in all manners and measures appropriate and lawful; and to provide that the constitution of this state does not protect the right to abortion or require the funding of abortion”.

While the result changes state-law, it does not affect the operation of abortion as that is controlled by federal law. However, if the Supreme Court case upon which that law is based, Roe v Wade, were overturned, then Alabama would be able to effect a prohibition on abortion.

In the state of West Virginia there was a similar ballot initiative passed that likewise prohibits public money being spent to fund abortions.