Montana abortion rights group launches ballot initiative

A reproductive rights group in Montana launched an initiative Tuesday to get a state constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights on the ballot in the November general election.

On Tuesday, Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights announced that it has officially launched its signature campaign to obtain the necessary 60,000 signatures from Montanans by June 21 to qualify the measure on the ballot.

The constitutional initiative, CI-128, would amend the state constitution “to expressly provide the right to make and execute decisions regarding one’s pregnancy, including the right to abortion. It would prohibit the government from denying or burdening the right to abortion prior to fetal viability,” the report said. election language states.

The measure also states that the government would be prohibited “from denying or burdening access to abortion” when the doctor or professional responsible for the patient’s treatment “determines that it is clinically indicated to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.”

The amended Constitution would also explicitly say that the government could not penalize any party involved in “someone’s voluntary decisions about their pregnancy.”

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Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal right to abortion, several states have passed near-total bans on abortion access. Fear of new restrictions on reproductive care has led to similar ballot initiatives in states across the country to enshrine the right to abortion in state constitutions.

“With 2024 shaping up to be the biggest year ever for abortion at the ballot box, it is critical that Montanans can make their voices heard on this issue,” read a statement from Kelly Hall, executive director of the Fairness Project, which supported abortion. -rights ballot measures in states like Ohio, Michigan and Vermont.

“Anti-abortion extremists have repeatedly attempted to interfere with Montanans’ personal health care choices. This is completely unacceptable – Montanans deserve to make their own decisions about reproductive care and not let politicians decide for them,” Hall said.