Louisiana's Democratic governor expected to sign strict abortion ban

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.
(Image credit: Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)

The Louisiana state legislature on Wednesday passed a so-called "heartbeat" abortion ban, which Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards has said he will sign.

Under the measure, abortions are illegal after an ultrasound can pick up the electric pulsing of what will become a fetus' heart, which can happen as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. There are no exceptions for cases of rape and incest, and doctors found guilty of performing abortions illegally would face up to two years in prison.

Edwards, who is up for re-election, has long touted his anti-abortion beliefs, and the bill is now headed to his desk. Anti-abortion activists are hoping that newly-enacted restrictions in Alabama, Missouri, Ohio, and other states will lead the Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v. Wade.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.