Michigan election board rejects abortion rights initiative

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Board of Canvassers on Wednesday rejected an abortion rights initiative after its two Republican board members voted against putting the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

The two Democrats on the board voted in favor, but getting the measure on the ballot required at least three votes of the four-member board. The Reproductive Freedom for All campaign, which gathered signatures to get the measure on the ballot, is expected to appeal to the Democratic-leaning Michigan Supreme Court in the coming days.

The board’s verdict isn’t expected to be the last word on the proposed constitutional amendment, which aims to negate a 91-year-old state law that would ban abortion in all instances except to save the life of the mother. But the meeting drew hundreds of people, who packed the hearing room and overflow rooms for a chance to comment. Abortion opponents also protested outside.

Michigan’s 1931 law — which abortion opponents had hoped would be triggered by a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade in June — remains blocked after months of court battles. A state judge ruled Aug. 19 that Republican county prosecutors couldn’t enforce the ban, saying it was “in the public’s best interest to let the people of the great state of Michigan decide this matter at the ballot box.”

-snip-

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI and SARA BURNETT
11 minutes ago


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-us-supreme-court-health-michigan-4888105cd9fe270786420c150e18c8b3

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Richard Houskamp, left, Anthony Daunt and Mary Ellen Gurewitz, members of the Michigan state Board of Canvassers listen to a speaker during a hearing, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, in Lansing, Mich. The board is scheduled to decide whether a ballot initiative that seeks to enshrine abortion rights into Michigan's constitution should go to voters in November. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

[SunSeeker]

1. Fucking GOP pigs won't even let the people vote on it!

[MiniMe]

4. They saw what happened in Kansas, and they are scared that it will be repeated in Michigan

[SunSeeker]

5. They KNOW it will be repeated in Michigan. nt

[rurallib]

6. If the vote would be on the ballot in November it could REALLY HURT

the radical republican candidates. A lot.

[catbyte]

2. That's bullshit. The only way RepubliQans can win is to deny us the right to vote on

issues we care about. I am LIVID. And why in hell are there only 4 members on the Canvassers Board? It's ridiculous.

[Mr.Bill]

3. A Board that requires a majority vote from

two Democrats and two republicans? Now, there's a road map to never get anything done.

[Novara]

7. FUCK

That appeal better be successful, dammit.

Why the FUCK have the ability to place initiatives on the ballot if the will of the people who signed enough petitions can be overridden by a fucked-up panel? I did not know we had that system here. I assumed if an initiative got enough signatures it would automatically be on the ballot. That's the way it SHOULD work.

[DownriverDem]

8. Makes me so sad

Now the Michigan Supreme Court will decide. It's Democratic Party controlled.

[GreenWave]

9. How many people signed for the initiative should override two recalcitrants

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. WASITREJECTEDBECAUSEOFRUNTOGETHERALLCAPSINARTICLEONE?

Whoever was responsible for proof-reading and approving the document to be printed really failed. Any third-grader would laugh at the stupidity of the lack of spacing. I wonder if the printing company is owned by a pro-life repuke. It's so bad, it might have been sabotage.

Jeebus fucking kreist this was a mess. Of our own making.

[Pathwalker]

11. Will be decided by Michigan Supreme Court - 5/4 Dem.

So, there's still hope.