Current:Home > NewsThe Michigan supreme court set to decide whether voters see abortion on the ballot-InfoLens
The Michigan supreme court set to decide whether voters see abortion on the ballot
View Date:2024-12-23 14:31:06
LANSING, Mich. – A proposed state constitutional amendment that could protect abortion rights in Michigan has hit another roadblock on its path to November's ballot. Wednesday, a four-person board deadlocked along partisan lines on whether to send the amendment along to voters this fall.
Abortion rights supporters are expected to appeal the decision straight to the state's supreme court, but time is ticking. Any language that is slated to appear on the ballot would have to be sent to the printer by Sept. 9.
"Certainly that will be the next step, asking the Supreme Court to have the board do its job, essentially, and put this on the ballot because we have complied with the requirements," says Darci McConnell of the group Reproductive Freedom for All.
McConnell says the campaign turned in far more signatures than are required to get on the ballot. In fact, the petition broke a record in the state when more than 700,000 voters signed on.
For Michiganders who support abortion rights, the possibility of an amendment to protect abortion is important. The state has a nearly 100-year-old law that makes abortion illegal except in cases where the pregnant person's life is at risk. For now, that law is held up in litigation and is not being enforced.
Alleged typos
But Republicans said the petitions that were circulated had typos and words that were pushed too close together to be easily understood. The proposed amendment has faced scrutiny over alleged typos in its petition language for weeks.
"Call these typos, errors, mistakes, or whatever," says Eric Doster, the attorney for Citizens to Support MI Women and Children. "This gibberish now before this board does not satisfy the full test requirement under law and this board has never approved, never approved a petition with these types of typos and errors."
The version of the petition available online at the Board of State Canvassers' website appears to show the typos, such as: "DECISIONSABOUTALLMATTERSRELATINGTOPREGNANCY."
An appeal
Reproductive Freedom for All, the group behind the proposed amendment, can appeal the Wednesday decision straight to the Michigan Supreme Court where Democrats have a narrow majority.
If approved by the justices, Michigan will join other states such as California and Vermont where voters will see similar state constitutional abortion rights amendments on their ballots this November.
After voters in Kansas decided to reject a constitutional amendment that would have restricted abortion rights, Democrats across the country have renewed enthusiasm to push for abortion rights.
How an amendment could affect the rest of Nov.'s ballot
Democrats, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, are pushing hard for an amendment in part because of how much is at stake in November. Whitmer is running for reelection against abortion rights opponent Republican Tudor Dixon, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Dixon made headlines this summer after responding to a question about the hypothetical rape of a 14-year-old by a family member being a "perfect example" of why abortion should be banned.
An amendment to protect abortion rights could propel abortion rights supporters to the polls and help push Democrats to victory up and down the ballot.
veryGood! (252)
Related
- RHOP's Candiace Dillard Bassett Gives Birth, Shares First Photos of Baby Boy
- Amazon product launch: From Echo to Alexa, the connected smart home may soon be a reality
- Officer said girl, 11, being solicited by adult could be charged with child porn, video shows
- Anheuser-Busch says it will no longer amputate the tails of Budweiser's Clydesdales
- Stocks soared on news of Trump's election. Bonds sank. Here's why.
- Suspect suffers life-threatening injuries in ‘gunfight’ with Missouri officers
- As Ozempic use grows, so do reports of possible mental health side effects
- Officer said girl, 11, being solicited by adult could be charged with child porn, video shows
- Deion Sanders doubles down on vow to 99-year-old Colorado superfan
- Marines say F-35 feature to protect pilot could explain why it flew 60 miles on its own
Ranking
- Stock market today: Asian stocks dip as Wall Street momentum slows with cooling Trump trade
- George R.R. Martin, Jodi Picoult and more sue OpenAI: 'Systematic theft on a mass scale'
- What's the matter with men? 'Real masculinity' should look to queer community, Gen Z.
- Project Veritas, founded by James O'Keefe, is laying off workers and pausing fundraising
- Ariana Grande's Brunette Hair Transformation Is a Callback to Her Roots
- Senate confirms new army chief as one senator’s objection holds up other military nominations
- Minnesota approves giant solar energy project near Minneapolis
- U.N. General Assembly opens with world in crisis — but only 1 of the 5 key world powers attending
Recommendation
-
Parts of Southern California under quarantine over oriental fruit fly infestation
-
Suspect in family’s killing in suburban Chicago dies along with passenger after Oklahoma crash
-
After a lull, asylum-seekers adapt to US immigration changes and again overwhelm border agents
-
Man charged in 2 cold case murders after DNA links him to scenes
-
McDonald's Version: New Bestie Bundle meals celebrate Swiftie friendship bracelets
-
Angus Cloud died from accidental overdose, coroner's office says
-
Simone Biles makes World Championships in gymnastics for sixth time, setting a record
-
Southern Charm's Taylor Comes Clean About Accusing Paige DeSorbo of Cheating on Craig Conover