Abortion access ballot measures are at the center of a new wave of legal and procedural questions in the US
Opponents of abortion access focused on technical aspects at a time when votes were on the side of abortion access defenders. That side has prevailed on all seven election questions over the past two years. Abortion-related measures are on the November ballot in six states — and that number could increase.
There have been disputes over how official documents should describe measures and the details about whether they qualify for the ballot.
Here’s what you should know about the latest wave of legal issues.
In Arizona, election officials are still verifying that there are enough valid signatures to add a measure protecting abortion rights to the ballot.
Even with this issue persisting, there is a dispute over how to describe the measurement in a pamphlet to be provided to voters as a resource.
A Republican-led legislative committee wants the fetus to be described as an “unborn human being.”
Arizona for Abortion Access filed a lawsuit this week trying to block the use of that phrase, arguing that it is politically charged and was chosen to rally opposition to the measure.
Arkansas election officials on Wednesday rejected petitions to introduce an abortion rights measure to voters there, sparking a disagreement that has not yet been brought to court.
The Secretary of State’s office said the petitions filed earlier this month did not include the required statements in relation to paid signature collectors.
The group that championed the ballot measure, Arkansas for Limited Government, said it delivered what it was supposed to. But the State maintains its position and could be taken to court.
The organizations behind two ballot measures in Montana — including one to guarantee abortion rights — this week sued the secretary of state’s office about changes made to the rules about which signatures can be accepted to support ballot measures.
Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen told counties last month that they must reject signatures from inactive voters — those who did not vote in the general election and who did not respond to efforts to confirm their mailing address.
Groups promoting the ballot measures say this position goes against the State Constitution, which requires petitions to be signed by qualified voters – U.S. citizens over the age of 18 who meet registration and residency requirements.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Tuesday.
Petitions for amendments to protect abortion rights and eliminate party primary elections were filed in June.
This week’s events are just the latest round of conflicts over abortion election issues.
In South Dakota, the Life Defense Fund last month sued to block abortion rights measure this is on the November ballot. That case is still pending in court.
The judges’ decisions were crucial in getting amendments to guarantee the right to abortion on the ballot in Florida It is Nevada.
O superior state court in New York agreed Thursday with a lower court ruling that introduced an amendment to bar discrimination on “gender identity” and “pregnancy outcomes” before voters. In May, a judge removed him from the ballot after finding a procedural error by legislators who put it there.
Last year, Ohio voters rejected a requirement that constitutional amendments obtain 60% of the popular vote a few months before approving an amendment to the add abortion rights to the state constitution.
The ballot questions are part of a reset of state abortion policies after a 2022 US Supreme Court ruling which ended the national right to abortion. Most Republican-controlled states have begun enforcing restrictions — including 14 that now ban abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with limited exceptions.
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