Michigan pro-abortion amendment blocked

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers split Wednesday over whether to present a ballot initiative to voters that would put a right to abortion in the state constitution. The amendment would have nullified a 1931 state law that protects babies from abortion in every case except to save the life of the mother. The Bureau of Elections said it verified enough signatures for the vote. But the board is made up of two Republicans and two Democrats, and the Republicans voted against it. They said a formatting issue made the amendment unintelligible. The amendment needed three votes to go on the Nov. 8 ballot. The Reproductive Freedom for All campaign is expected to appeal the decision.

What’s happening in other states? The South Carolina House approved a bill that protects babies in every case except rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. The bill will now go before the state Senate. The exception for rape or incest in the bill applies before 12 weeks gestation and if the woman tells the doctor she was raped. The doctor then has to report the case with her name and contact information to the police. Currently, the state protects babies after 20 weeks.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in Vitals on a pro-life constitutional amendment that failed in a Kansas referendum.