South Dakota Abortion Vote Draws Attention
Related News
- 01/22/10 — Deadline For Colo. “Personhood” Amendment Moved Up
- 01/14/10 — Group: Enough signatures for parental notification measure
- 01/11/10 — Nevada Court Rejects ‘Personhood’ Ballot Measure
- 01/08/10 — Judge: ‘Personhood’ abortion petition too general for November ballot
- 12/04/09 — Flawed initiative: Obvious legal problems should sink ‘personhood’ proposal
- More Reproductive Freedom news
The Wall Street Journal: Two years after a strict abortion ban here was overturned by voters, backers have brought a similar measure -- but one laced with complexities that could bode well for its passage, and ultimately could bring about the challenge to Roe v. Wade desired by abortion foes nationwide. The referendum has sparked a door-to-door battle to persuade voters that is gaining national attention. "While South Dakota accounts for only 0.1% of all abortions, it has a potentially disproportionate effect on public policy, because people are seeking to create a vehicle to overturn Roe," says Sarah Stoesz, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Two years ago, South Dakota voters rejected an abortion ban in a referendum, 56% to 44%. But polls then showed that many who voted against the ban would have switched sides if the proposal had made exceptions for women impregnated through rape or incest. Those exceptions -- as well as one for women in poor health -- are included in the new measure. But they are far from simple; the full text of the proposed law is more than 2,400 words. In the voting booth this November, citizens will be presented only a 249-word summary. Abortion-rights advocates say the exceptions are so narrowly drawn as to be meaningless. "We need to help people understand that the exceptions are very complicated -- this is still a total ban," says Jan Nicolay, co-chairwoman of the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families, a group that includes ministers, business organizations, Planned Parenthood and other individuals and organizations who oppose the ban.
To read more click here.
Comments
There are no comments for this entry.
