ARKANSAS, USA — Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston has rejected an abortion ballot initiative brought forward by the group Arkansans for Limited Government (AFLG). The rejection comes just days after the group turned in 101,525 signatures to the office on July 5.
"I think we feel a bit dismayed and disappointed and in some sense appalled that this process is potentially being weaponized to make a political move against us," Gennie Diaz with AFLG said.
The proposed amendment would prohibit the state from banning abortion in the first 18 weeks of pregnancy, or the instance of rape, incest, and fetal anomalies.
According to Thurston's letter, the group reportedly did not turn in documents that identified paid petition workers or canvassers versus volunteers. The Secretary of State's Office said they also didn't turn in a signed statement that they had a copy of the recent edition of the state's initiatives and referenda handbook.
Diaz said they were disappointed but not surprised by this development.
"That is because this issue is so contentious and because the Arkansas state government has done everything within their power to ban abortion and to restrict access and control people's personal choices when it comes to healthcare," Diaz said. "We have seen time and time again that this is very much wanted policy from the Arkansans we've engaged with, which goes along with our polling that shows that the majority of Arkansans believe abortion should be accessible in some circumstances."
It takes 90,704 signatures to qualify. Thurston said if the 14,143 signatures that were collected by paid poll workers were removed, then the measure would fall short of that requirement.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders posted on X in response to the measure being rejected.
"Today the far left pro-abortion crowd in Arkansas showed they are both immoral and incompetent," she wrote.
Jerry Cox, executive director for The Family Council Action Committee, who's been advocating against the amendment, said in a statement:
"This amendment would have legalized abortion for any reason during the first five months of pregnancy and abortion up to birth in many cases. The amendment did not include any medical licensing or health and safety standards for abortion. Those are fatal flaws, and I am confident Arkansans would have rejected the amendment had it made it to the ballot."
Diaz said the group is reviewing the letter and is working to find a way to appeal it.
"Our message to Arkansas is that we're not giving up," she said. "We're not backing down. We very much will do everything within our power to ensure that the signatures will be counted and that this issue will be placed on the ballot in November."
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