Voters in five states cast their ballots Nov. 4 on measures dealing with life issues, but pro-lifers came up short in all five cases.
California and South Dakota voted down ballot initiatives concerning abortion, while Colorado defeated a constitutional amendment granting legal protections to “any human being from the moment of conception.”
Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing embryonic stem cell research. In Washington State, voters passed an assisted suicide initiative permitting doctors to prescribe lethal doses of medication for terminally ill patients.
South Dakota’s Measure 11 would have criminalized abortion unless done in cases of rape or incest or to save the life the mother. It also contained a health exception as long as it pertained to a “substantial and irreversible” physical impairment to a major organ. The defeat marks the second election in a row where South Dakota voters rejected an abortion ban. A 2006 ban did not include rape, incest or health exceptions.
California Proposition 4 would have required doctors to notify parents or family members before performing abortions on unwed minors. The defeat marks the third time Californians have voted down parental notification proposals.
Proposition 8, California’s constitutional amendment to ban “gay marriage,” was thought to have seized most of the attention and resources and funds for the pro-life/pro-family side.
In Michigan, the constitutional amendment will overturn current state law that prohibits embryonic stem cell research.
Opponents, who have coalesced under an organization called Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science and Experimentation, argued that the amendment would result in unrestricted, unregulated science in the state. The argument was a unique turn in the stem cell debate, which often focuses on whether embryonic stem cells or adult stem cells are more promising.
Last year, voters in New Jersey defeated a constitutional amendment that would have funded embryonic stem cell research. Michigan pro-lifers had hoped to achieve similar success.
Colorado voters defeated Amendment 48 – known as the Personhood Amendment – by a 3-to-1 margin. Supporters said the amendment would have made Colorado the first state to guarantee life, liberty and due process of law to pre-born children.
Washington’s Initiative 1000 passed behind the strength of supporters raising $4.9 million, compared with the $1.6 million raised by opponents.
Like Oregon’s assisted-suicide law, Initiative 1000 will allow doctors to prescribe, but not administer, lethal doses of medication.