Montana abortion rights group launches ballot initiative

Reproductive rights groups in Montana launched an effort Tuesday to put a state constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights on the ballot for this November’s general election.

On Tuesday, Montanans for Reproductive Rights announced the formal launch of a signature campaign to collect the 60,000 signatures needed from Montanans by June 21 to approve the measure on the ballot. did.

Constitutional Initiative CI-128 would amend the state constitution to “explicitly provide for the right to decide and carry out one’s own pregnancy, including the right to an abortion.” “This would prohibit the government from denying or imposing a burden on the right to an abortion before the fetus is viable.” voting language states.

The bill also states that the government “may deny access to an abortion if the patient’s physician or provider determines that it is medically necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.” It also states that it is prohibited to “inflict a burden or impose a burden on the public.”

The revised constitution will also state that the government cannot punish parties involved in someone’s “voluntary decision regarding pregnancy.”

2024 election coverage

Since the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion, many states have passed laws that create near-total bans on abortion access. Concerns about further restrictions on reproductive health care have prompted similar ballot efforts in states across the country to enshrine the right to abortion in their state constitutions.

“With 2024 poised to be the biggest abortion voting year in history, it is critical that Montanans have their voices heard on this issue,” said a statement from Kelly Hall, executive director of the pro-abortion Fairness Project. Stated. -Vote-of-rights measures in states including Ohio, Michigan, and Vermont.

“Anti-abortion extremists have repeatedly tried to interfere with Montanans’ personal health care choices. That is completely unacceptable – Montanans have the right to make their own reproductive health decisions and political Don’t let the house decide for you,” Hall said.