Montana Preps for a Critical Abortion Vote This November
Montana residents will vote to determine if a right to abortion will be cemented in the state Constitution this coming November. This makes Montana one of nine states facing a citizen-proposed question regarding abortion rights on their ballot papers.
Overwhelming Signature Collection
In an electronic mail disseminated late Tuesday, Montana’s secretary of state conveyed to the pro-abortion rights group that they had assembled a sufficient number of verified signatures for the measure to appear on the ballot. Remarkably, the coalition recorded over 117,000 signatures for this cause, a figure nearly twice the required 60,039. This represents the highest number of signatures ever collected for a Montana ballot measure.
Arizona’s Supreme Court Dismisses Challenge
Arizona was also bracing for a Thursday deadline to confirm its ballots, like Montana. Late Tuesday, the state’s Supreme Court overruled a late appeal from anti-abortion entities hoping to overrule a similar measure that had been sanctioned by the state’s secretary of state the prior week. Their unanimously Republican-appointed justices explained that this decision did not express alignment with the measure. Instead, it indicated disagreement with the technical objections anti-abortion groups presented against the language incorporated in the petitions for the ballot.
National Democrats and Abortion Rights Groups Investment
National Democrats, alongside abortion rights advocates, are investing heavily in both Montana and Arizona. They hope these ballot measures can help stimulate voter turnout and consequently bolster Democrats running for the Senate. This strategic effort aims to preserve the party’s currently slender majority.
Continued Legality of Abortion in Montana
Presently, abortion is legal in Montana up until viability, or when a fetus becomes capable of surviving outside the womb. This is typically around 24 weeks into pregnancy due to a 1999 state Supreme Court ruling. The ruling posited that the right to privacy in the state Constitution encompassed a right to “procreative autonomy.” To prevent future courts from potentially overturning this decision, advocates deem the measure indispensable. Notably, the state’s Republican governor and the Republican-controlled legislature have continually campaigned to ban or limit abortions.
Troubleshooting Site Access Issues
While verifying access, trouble with article content retrieval may arise. It is recommended to enable JavaScript in browser settings to overcome this issue. For Reader mode users, please exit and log into your preferred news source account, if applicable. Thank you for your patience during this process.
Author: STAFF HERE NORTHVILLE WRITER
The NORTHVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENorthville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Northville, Wayne County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Summer Concert Series, Tunes on Tuesday, and the Northville Farmers Market. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Northville Chamber of Commerce and Northville Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, software, and retail that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Reliable Software, and Attendance on Demand. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
