The group Arkansas for Limited Government faced a setback as the Arkansas secretary of state rejected their efforts to get an abortion-rights ballot measure approved. The group had collected over 100,000 signatures, but the rejection was due to missing required statements about paid signature gatherers. The proposed measure aimed to ensure access to abortion services up to 18 weeks of pregnancy in the state, amending the Arkansas Constitution. Abortion is currently banned in Arkansas except when necessary to save a patient’s life.
The group claimed to have followed all rules and regulations, and expressed alarm and outrage at the secretary of state’s decision. They argued that the state law does not empower the secretary of state to disqualify them based on unfounded legal interpretations. Similar efforts to protect abortion access are underway in multiple states this year, indicating a wider trend in the US towards advocating for reproductive rights.
Arkansas for Limited Government now faces the challenge of gathering the required signatures while complying with all regulations to ensure that their proposed measure can proceed to the state ballot. This rejection underscores the contentious nature of abortion rights in the US and the challenges faced by advocacy groups in pushing for legislative changes, especially in states with strict regulations on abortion services.
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