To Criminalize or Not: SD Abortion Ban Postponed, Placed on Nov. Ballot

The Associated Press is reporting that South Dakota's abortion ban will be decided by the state's voters. S.D. Secretary of State Chris Nelson announced yesterday that the law's opponents had collected enough signatures to place the issue on the Nov. 7 ballot. The law, which would have gone into effect on July 1, will be suspended until the November elections. Supporters of the ban had hoped that the law would prompt a lawsuit presenting the Supreme Court with an opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade. That still may happen if the voters support the ban.

Our coverage of this issue:

• Recent Developments on the Criminalization of Abortion in South Dakota (March 28, 2006)
• South Dakota Anti-Abortion Bill Signed by Governor (March 6, 2006)
• Legislative History of South Dakota's Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act (Feb. 27, 2006)
• South Dakota Governor Expected to Sign HB 1215, The Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act (Feb 25, 2006)

[JH]