The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday to uphold the state’s rejection of petitions for an abortion rights ballot initiative, preventing it from appearing on the November ballot. The 4-3 decision centered on procedural issues, with the court determining that the petition organizers, Arkansans for Limited Government, did not comply with state law by failing to submit required documentation regarding paid signature gatherers in a single bundle.
Justice Rhonda Wood, writing for the majority, stated that the Secretary of State correctly refused to count the signatures collected by paid canvassers. The ruling came despite arguments from the group that they should have been given more time to provide additional documents.
In a dissenting opinion, Justice Karen Baker criticized the decision, arguing that it deprived voters of their right to vote on the issue. The proposed amendment would have allowed abortions up to 20 weeks and in cases of rape, incest, or threats to the woman’s health, but it lacked support from national abortion rights groups due to its restrictions.
The decision is a significant setback for abortion rights advocates in Arkansas, a state with strict abortion laws that currently bans the procedure except when the woman’s life is at risk.
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