Proposition 1, otherwise known as the Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom, is a proposition on the ballot for the General Election on Nov 8. The proposition will allow voters to vote on the right to have an abortion and the choice to refuse or accept different forms of contraceptives.   

After the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, abortion has become a topic of contention once again.

According to an Aug. 30 news story from the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Supreme Court’s decision made abortion illegal in the following states, Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. 

In the state of California, abortion is legal up to fetal viability. It is also legal after fetal viability if a procedure is necessary to protect the mother’s life or health.  

During a panel on Oct. 20 with the California State University Bakersfield’s Kegley Institute of Ethics, Mary Ziegler, a professor of law at the University of California, Davis School of Law, said that Proposition 1 is “creating a lot of uncertainty for college students.” 

“California Proposition 1, Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2022)” on Ballotpedia states that a “yes” vote on Proposition 1 would support “amending the state constitution to prohibit the state from interfering with or denying an individual’s reproductive freedom, which is defined to include a right to an abortion and a right to contraceptives.” A “no” vote on Proposition 1 would oppose an amendment in the California Constitution to provide a right to reproductive freedom. 

Samantha Diaz, a second-year Liberal Studies major at CSUB, shared her belief that “It is their choice on what they want to or do not want to do with their body.” 

Grace Alvarez, another second-year Liberal Studies major at CSUB, said, “I feel that it should be a choice that any female is allowed to make, and it should be well respected, they shouldn’t feel some type of guilt or even be judged for their decision and overall, they should be fully supported.”  

The supporting party of Proposition 1 is the Democratic party, and the opposing party is the Republican party of California.  

According to Ballotpedia under “California Proposition 1, Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2022),” supporting committees like Yes on 1, have contributed $9.3 million and opposing committees like No on 1 have contributed $71 thousand dollars in cash contributions and endorsements that deal with their stance on abortion. In total expenditures, the supporting amount was $12,122,446.36 and the opposing amount was $128,791.72. 

Proposition 1 will be on the ballot for voting in the General Election on Nov. 8, 2022.