Effort to repeal new Massachusetts abortion law nears 100,000 signatures, on track for 2028 election

Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald on Oct 29, 2026

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BOSTON — A group seeking to overturn a recent Massachusetts abortion law expanding physicians’ ability to perform abortions after 24 weeks reported that they have gathered nearly 100,000 signatures.

That tally is overshooting the bar to put a ballot initiative before voters in 2028 and potentially suspend the law in the interim.

“The people of Massachusetts did not ask for abortion through all nine months, and in a matter of weeks they made that clear,” said Sam Miele, chair of the Compassionate Care Coalition and director of Massachusetts Family Action. “We are grateful to every volunteer, pastor and parish staffer who carried a clipboard. Because of them, voters will have the final say.”

The Compassionate Care Coalition, a group led by Massachusetts Citizens for Life and Massachusetts Family Action, announced Thursday they had collected more than 97,000 signatures — surpassing the required 49,716 — to allow voters to veto the abortion law in the November 2028 election and suspend the law until then.

The signatures had been submitted to local town clerks and were brought to the Secretary of State’s office for certification Thursday.

The law in question, Chapter 188, grants physicians expanded professional judgment over abortion at any point after 24 weeks. Providers can choose to grant abortions in cases of risks to the patient’s life, risks to the patient’s physical or mental health, a lethal fetal anomaly or diagnosis, or a grave fetal diagnosis indicating the need for extraordinary medical interventions to sustain life.

The law was passed and signed by Gov. Maura Healey in August. It is scheduled to take effect 90 days after the signing, on Nov. 8.

Following the law’s passage, abortion advocates called the move “landmark legislation” removing barriers to care and noted the state is the 10th in the nation to “fully trust patients and their doctors with medical decisions later in pregnancy.”

Healey can declare the law an emergency law at any point up to the 2028 election, blocking or undoing any efforts to suspend the law.

“The Governor continues to monitor the referendum process and evaluate options,” spokesperson for Healey’s office Karissa Hand said. “This law is for parents facing some of the most painful and devastating circumstances imaginable and making sure these decisions are made between a woman and her doctor.”

The Compassionate Care Coalition urged the governor not to attach the emergency preamble.

In an announcement at the Massachusetts Citizens for Life “Truth About Choice” memorial in the State House, speakers noted support from the state’s four Roman Catholic bishops, multiple parishes and Protestant churches, along with coalition member Democrats for Life of America and Cape Cod Pro-Life Alliance.

The coalition launched their signature drive in September, doing the outreach over four weeks.

The group noted a provision in the new law removing a requirement for the Department of Public Health to report late-term abortion data, citing data that “abortions after 24 weeks rose from 41 in 2022 to 84 in 2023 and 99 in 2024.”

“When it seems impossible to reach and serve vulnerable, hurting women, remember that truth paves the road of possibility,” said Myrna Maloney Flynn, president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life and Compassionate Care Coalition. “If you ever think you’re powerless when it comes to protecting the unborn, think again.”

The coalition said their “focus now turns to educating voters ahead of the November 2028 election.”