Kansas votes abortions constitutionally legal, huge stepping stone for rest of nation

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A huge win for abortion rights activists in Kansas.

Voters there showed up in record numbers Tuesday night to vote against a referendum that would have changed the state's constitution to outlaw abortion. Abortions in Kansas will remain constitutionally legal in the state.

Kansas is the first state to put abortion rights to a vote.

Pro-choice groups say this vote follows trends they're seeing here in Wisconsin; while pro-life activists say these are the conversations they were expecting to have after the overturning of Roe v Wade.

The question now stands --  will Kansas be a bellwether for the rest of the nation?

The "Kansas no state constitutional right to abortion and legislative power to regulate abortion amendment" is the official name of the amendment that put the rights to abortion in the hands of Kansans, who chose not to amend their state constitution.

"It's tricky, it's very tricky," said law professor, Lisa Mazzie.

Mazzie says it's possible for there to be a state constitutional claim here in Wisconsin.

The law professor goes on to say, "with the amendment not passing, by a large margin, it seems to send a signal as Justice Alito had said turn it over to the people, let the people decide, and Kansas case, the people have spoken pretty clearly."

Both pro-choice and pro-life in Wisconsin weighed in on this vote, and what they are expecting come midterm and primary election.

"What we are going to see is an election cycle where reproduction freedom is at the center of the debates," said Mike Murry, executive director of Planned Parenthood Wisconsin.

"We're talking about housing healthcare, all of these things should be on the ballot at the same time as protection for life," said Gracie Skogman, Legislative Director of Wisconsin Right to Life.

A new Marquette Law School Poll, shows 36% favored the decision to overturn Roe v Wade while 64 percent opposed the decision.