Current:Home > ScamsThe Michigan supreme court set to decide whether voters see abortion on the ballot-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
The Michigan supreme court set to decide whether voters see abortion on the ballot
View Date:2025-01-11 15:16:31
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! (3)
Related
- IAT Community Introduce
- Environmental Auditors Approve Green Labels for Products Linked to Deforestation and Authoritarian Regimes
- Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $400 Shoulder Bag for Just $95
- Antarctic Researchers Report an Extraordinary Marine Heatwave That Could Threaten Antarctica’s Ice Shelves
- Don't Miss This Sweet Moment Between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Dads at the Kansas City Chiefs Game
- John Akomfrah’s ‘Purple’ Is Climate Change Art That Asks Audiences to Feel
- Encina Chemical Recycling Plant in Pennsylvania Faces Setback: One of its Buildings Is Too Tall
- Public Lands in the US Have Long Been Disposed to Fossil Fuel Companies. Now, the Lands Are Being Offered to Solar Companies
- What are the best financial advising companies? Help USA TODAY rank the top U.S. firms
- Senator’s Bill Would Fine Texans for Multiple Environmental Complaints That Don’t Lead to Enforcement
Ranking
- Incredible animal moments: Watch farmer miraculously revive ailing chick, doctor saves shelter dogs
- Make Sure You Never Lose Your Favorite Photos and Save 58% On the Picture Keeper Connect
- Scientists Examine Dangerous Global Warming ‘Accelerators’
- Ambitious Climate Proposition Faces Fossil Fuel Backlash in El Paso
- Research reveals China has built prototype nuclear reactor to power aircraft carrier
- Environmental Advocates Protest Outside EPA Headquarters Over the Slow Pace of New Climate and Clean Air Regulations
- Video shows bear stuck inside car in Lake Tahoe
- Star player Zhang Shuai quits tennis match after her opponent rubs out ball mark in disputed call
Recommendation
-
Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul VIP fight package costs a whopping $2M. Here's who bought it.
-
New Mexico State Soccer Player Thalia Chaverria Found Dead at 20
-
Patrick and Brittany Mahomes Are a Winning Team on ESPYS 2023 Red Carpet
-
Micellar Water You’ll Dump Makeup Remover Wipes For From Bioderma, Garnier & More
-
Dave Coulier Says He's OK If This Is the End Amid Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Battle
-
Washington’s Biggest Clean Energy Lobbying Group Pushes Natural Gas-Friendly Policy
-
You Need to See Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen’s Baby Girl Gia Make Her TV Debut
-
Senator’s Bill Would Fine Texans for Multiple Environmental Complaints That Don’t Lead to Enforcement