From WNYC Studios, it's Brian Lair, a daily politics podcast. It's Tuesday, August 2nd.

Today's a big day in the post-Roe versus Wade world. The state of Kansas, as you may have heard, is holding a referendum

on whether to remove abortion rights from protection by the state constitution. In a minute,

I'll read the actual wording of the proposal on the ballot, and we'll talk to Sheffali Luther,

who covers health care for the news organization the 19th. But this vote today is seen as a test case

because it's the first time voters will have a direct say in abortion rights politics since the Supreme Court undid the national right in June.

Also, it's happening in a conservative state. Basic abortion rights are popular nationally. If a vote to allow restrictions fails in

Kansas, it might be a warning to lawmakers in many states not to go too far in criminalizing

women's choices, even though the Supreme Court says they can. And this is also a test of the

precise wording that abortion rights opponents are using in Kansas.

It's a dense and confusing and, frankly, with twisting clauses, kind of a ballot question.

Each clause carefully drawn for political appeal, and they're calling their campaign,

value them both, meaning women and fetuses,

or what they call women and children. And that's how the ballot measures language begins.

Here it is for Kansans to vote yes or no on. Quote, because Kansansans value both women and children, the Constitution of the state of Kansas

does not require government funding of abortion and does not create or secure a right to abortion.

To the extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States, the people through their elected

state representatives and state senators may pass laws regarding abortion, including, but not

limited to, laws that account for circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest

or circumstances of necessity to save the life of the mother.

And then there's a box where you can check yes and a box where you can check no.

With me now, Shafali Lutra, who covers the intersection of gender and health for the nonprofit news organization the 19th.

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