JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Millions of text messages and knocking thousands of doors—that’s what supporters said led to the passage of Amendment 3, making abortion legal in the state once again.

Many voters went to the ballot box this election to vote in favor of the amendment and for many anti-abortion Republicans. Canvassers said it didn’t matter which political party answered the door, they found Missourians in favor of abortion rights.

St. Louis City resident Krysten Vaughn said she knocked on more than 200 doors in the days leading up to the election.

“This is one of my first times doing this to this extent,” Vaughn said. “Knocking this many doors, making this many phone calls, but I’ve had so much fun and have received so much support.”

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom is the organization behind Amendment 3. The group turned in 380,000 signatures earlier this year, more than double the amount needed to put the question on the ballot. Tuesday night, a celebration, after voters approved the measure 52% to 48%.

“I think people are ready to have access to abortion in Missouri,” Vaughn said. “I think people saw the ban and were disappointed by it but they are ready for us to restore access.”

Missouri was the first state in the country to ban abortion following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Back in 2019, the legislature passed a “trigger law,” which meant once the constitutional right to an abortion was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, Missouri could make abortion illegal.

Abortion supporters have said Missouri’s abortion ban is the strictest in the country, with no exceptions for rape or incest, only for emergencies.

According to the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), between June 24, 2022, and July 31, 2024, there were 74 abortions performed under the medical exception.

Tori Schafer, deputy director for policy and campaigns of the ACLU of Missouri, said Amendment 3 supporters knocked on more than 260,000 doors and sent more than a million text messages since January. Missourians for Constitutional Freedom also raised more than $31 million this election to put out messaging across the state.

“We had people drive four hours to come to our drive-through events just to sign petitions,” Vaughn said. “Seeing all that support just made me realize I’ve got to be optimistic; there has got to be a win in this.”

The opposition declared that they would take the measure to court if it were to pass on Tuesday.

“When you have a constitutional amendment that is this poorly written with vague and ambiguous terms designed to allow this umbrella for a parade of horribles, that vague language invites backend litigation,” Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey said.

Following the vote, Missouri Stands with Women (MSWW) said in a statement this was not the result they wanted.

“Despite being outspent by millions of dollars, life won in the majority of Missouri counties,” Stephanie Bell from MSWW said. “Our work to protect the safety of women and the dignity of life continues. Life supporters will not sit back and watch as Big Abortion works to dismantle all the health and safety protections put in place to protect women and babies. We will continue to fight and ultimately be victorious against the forces who see no value in life.”

Hours after the amendment was approved by voters, Missouri’s Planned Parenthood clinics filed a lawsuit Wednesday. The organizations said the hope is to strike down the state’s current abortion restrictions to allow providers to begin offering abortion services once the amendment goes into effect Dec. 5.

Amendment 3 prohibits the General Assembly from regulating abortion prior to the point of fetal viability, which is normally defined as the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb on its own, normally around 24 weeks.