Michigan Governor Whitmer Repeals Decades-Old Abortion Ban

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation to repeal the state's 1931 abortion ban, which was already blocked by a preliminary injunction. Abortion is currently legal in Michigan after a constitutional amendment was approved by 57% of voters in November 2018. The repeal legislation was passed by abortion rights advocates as a political statement and a safeguard to get the abortion ban off the books in case the constitutional amendment were ever reversed. The ban dates back to more than 170 years ago, before women or people of color had the right to vote.