The pro-life movement was dealt a devastating blow when outside interests spent obscene amounts of money to pass state constitutional amendments by obfuscating their true impact on voters – abortion until birth with no protections for mother or child.
States are fighting back to safeguard against fraud and protect the will of the people.
Florida is a good example. Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation designed to end fraud through the signature collection process. The bill requires:
- Petition circulators be Florida residents, have mandatory training and background checks
- Petition signers have ID
- Petitions include full text of amendment, sponsor’s name and a fiscal impact statement
- The sponsor must post a $1 million bond
- Violations will accrue fines of $5,000
Oklahoma is another. Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill to guard against fraud when collecting signatures. The new protections include:
- The number of signatures for any county is capped at a percentage of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, giving rural areas of the state an opportunity to contribute
- No out of state money can be used to underwrite the signature-collecting process.
Petition circulators must adhere to the following:
- Be registered voters of Oklahoma
- Not compensated based on the number of signatures or petitions collected
- Display notice that they are collecting signatures, disclosing if they are paid, and if so, divulge the person or entity
- A summary of the measure, without using deceitful euphemisms or code words nor any text in support or opposition to the measure
- Signers of petitions can have their names removed if they wish
- Petition sponsors must submit a weekly report detailing expenditures to Secretary of State
South Dakota is in the process of advancing legislation. The goals include:
- Shortening the time of gathering petition signatures by three months to allow for verification and legal challenges
- Require signatures from all 35 state senate districts
- The legislature passed a resolution requiring that successful ballot measures must have 60% of the vote instead of the current 50%. This measure will go before the voters
Arkansas is also a work in progress. Possible requirements include:
- Require petition canvassers to see an ID before signers may add their names
- A summary of the provision will be read to citizens before signing
- Canvassers must submit a sworn statement that he or she is compliant with all state laws
Some states where radical pro-abortion amendments have passed are not accepting defeat. Missouri has put measures into motion.
The legislature has passed a proposed constitutional referendum to repeal the radical, pro-abortion Amendment 3. It would allow abortion only for a medical emergency, in cases of rape or incest up to 12 weeks, or fetal anomaly.
The referendum would also prohibit gender transition puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries on minors and likely appear on the 2026 ballot.
It is encouraging that states are taking constructive measures to protect their citizens from deceitful out-of-state individuals and entities that want to impose a radicalized abortion agenda.
And Missouri is leading the way to undoing the damage inflicted by foreign billionaires and radical outside interests.
Standing for LIFE,
Brad Mattes,
President, Life Issues Institute
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