Students react to Maryland enshrining reproductive freedoms in state constitution

Montgomery County, Maryland presidential voting mail-in ballot at home in Silver Spring, Maryland on Friday afternoon Oct. 11 (Elvert Barnes/Flickr)

Senate Bill 798, cross-filed with House Bill 705, an act titled "Declaration of Rights - Right to Reproductive Freedom," was signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore and became a Maryland constitutional amendment on Nov. 5.⁠

Over 70% of Maryland voters approved “Question 1” on the state’s election ballot to pass reproductive freedom as a constitutional amendment⁠, based on election results from the Maryland State Board of Elections.

With the concerns of reproductive justice on the line, ten U.S. states, including Maryland, added ballot initiatives aiming to strengthen and protect current reproductive freedom legislation, including access to abortion and contraceptives. Maryland is one of seven states that approved its amendments, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.

“We have constitutional protections that say a person is always able to have an abortion. A person is also always able to access birth control, and a person is able to be pregnant. That's their choice,” said Erin Bradley, Board Chair of Freedom in Reproduction Maryland and Vice President of Public Affairs Planned Parenthood of Maryland, Inc. at a reproductive freedom panel.

Maryland secured protections to women’s reproductive rights during the 2023 legislative session passing a series of bills into law providing a stable and secure environment for healthcare providers and patients.

These legislations protect reproductive health care providers from criminal prosecutions, implement access to over-the-counter contraception in public higher education institutions and allow non-restrictive access to abortion, according to the Office of Governor Wes Moore.

Nina Walker, a senior communications major, voted yes on Question 1. She feels reassured that Maryland has reproductive protections.

“People need to educate themselves because when you vote for or when you vote against abortion, you're not stopping abortion, you're just stopping safe abortions. It will happen regardless,” Walker said.

Jakeya Johnson, Executive Director of Reproductive Justice Maryland, clarifies that the ballot question does not change current Maryland law but ensures these rights are protected against future legislation from state or local government to restrict abortion or contraception access.

“It'll just enshrine the rights that we have now into our state constitution so that if political power changes in the state, those things can't be taken away without another constitutional amendment,” she said.

Omari Allen, a senior computer science major, voted for the initiative.

“I wanted to do something and put forth some type of vote that would help women, especially Black women when it comes to maternity rights, make sure that they come out of pregnancy alive and safe,” Allen said.

Herve Habineza, a junior philosophy, politics and economics major, wants reproductive rights to be normalized.

“I voted for, you know, the freedom of choice of women. Like, I believe they choose to do whatever they want with their bodies. And I don't feel like people or the government or somebody should tell them what to do,” said Habineza.

Sarah Bamba, a sophomore information science major, is grateful to live in Maryland.

“It was like a breath of fresh air after the election results,” Bamba said.