Abortion in Wisconsin

Abortion in Wisconsin has been legal since September 18, 2023[citation needed], and is performed in Madison, Milwaukee and Sheboygan through 22 weeks gestation.[1] However, elective abortions in Wisconsin are under dispute after the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court of the United States on June 24, 2022. Abortion opponents cite an 1849 law that they claim bans the procedure in all cases except when the life of the mother is in danger.[2] However, lower level courts have argued that the law only applies to infanticide and not consensual abortions.[3] The enforceability of the law is disputed and being considered by the state courts. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announced that they would resume abortion services in Madison and Milwaukee on September 18, 2023.[4][5][6] Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin later announced that they would resume abortion services in Sheboygan on December 28, 2023.[7]

53% of Wisconsin adults said in a poll in 2014 by the Pew Research Center that abortion should be legal in all or most cases with 45% saying it should be illegal in all or most cases. The 2023 American Values Atlas reported that, in their most recent survey, 66% of Wisconsinites said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.[8] The Center for Reproductive Rights labels the state as hostile towards abortion rights, e.g. 20-week ban, telemedicine ban, TRAP requirements, admitting privileges requirement, transfer agreement requirement, reporting requirement, parental consent required, mandatory counseling, mandatory ultrasound, and waiting period requirements.[9]

  1. ^ State bans on abortion throughout pregnancy, Guttmacher Institute, 29 August 2023.
  2. ^ "SCOTUS strikes down Roe v. Wade making nearly all abortions illegal in Wisconsin". Wisconsin Public Radio. June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "1849 Wisconsin law doesn't ban abortions, Dane County judge rules". Wisconsin State Journal. July 7, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  4. ^ "Planned Parenthood to resume offering abortions next week in Wisconsin, citing court ruling". CBS 58. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  5. ^ "Planned Parenthood resuming abortion services in Wisconsin". WISN. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "Planned Parenthood to resume offering abortions next week in Wisconsin, citing court ruling". AP News. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "Planned Parenthood sets date to resume abortion in Sheboygan clinic". WISN. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Abortion Views in All 50 States: Findings from PRRI's 2023 American Values Atlas | PRRI". PRRI | At the intersection of religion, values, and public life. May 2, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "What If Roe Fell?". Center for Reproductive Rights. January 20, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022. See also "Winsonsin". Center for Reproductive Rights. July 22, 2021. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2022.