Abortion may be legal nationwide, but voters in three states – Alabama, West Virginia and Oregon -- will decide in November whether to curtail the right to end an unborn baby’s life.
Alabama citizens will vote on Amendment 2, which would change the state constitution to “recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life.” The goal is to ensure abortion cannot be legalized in Alabama if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
“We want to make sure that at a state level, if Roe v. Wade is overturned, that the Alabama Constitution cannot be used as a mechanism by which to claim that there is a right to abortion,” Alabama Republican state Rep. Matt Fridy said earlier this year.
In West Virginia, voters will consider Amendment 1, which has a similar goal and would add language to the state constitution stating that “nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.” The amendment, if passed, also would overturn a state Supreme Court ruling that allowed state funding of abortion.
Finally, Oregon citizens will vote on Measure 106, which would amend the state constitution so that public money cannot be used for abortions.
Pro-lifers in Oregon are making sure voters in the left-leaning state understand the measure’s intent.
“This isn’t going to ban abortions,” Nichole Bentz, the chief spokeswoman for the “Yes on Measure 106” campaign, told Oregon Public Broadcasting. “So, if you want to get an abortion, you can still choose to have one. We’re just mostly talking about who is paying for one.”
Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com.
Photo courtesy: Picsea/Unsplash.jpg
