The Arkansas Supreme Court has ruled that a group advocating for a ballot measure to expand access to abortion in the state has failed to meet the necessary signature requirement. The court’s decision means that the measure will not appear on the upcoming ballot.
The group, Arkansas True Grass, had been collecting signatures in support of a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have repealed certain restrictions on abortion access. However, the court ultimately found that the group did not gather enough valid signatures to meet the required threshold.
In a statement, the Arkansas Supreme Court explained that the group had submitted approximately 55,000 signatures, but only 58% of those signatures were deemed valid. The group needed at least 89,151 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Opponents of the measure, including anti-abortion groups and conservative lawmakers, applauded the court’s decision. They argued that the proposed amendment would have allowed for dangerous late-term abortions and put women’s health at risk.
Arkansas True Grass expressed disappointment in the ruling and vowed to continue fighting for expanded access to abortion in the state. They accused their opponents of using underhanded tactics to prevent the measure from reaching voters.
Despite the setback, supporters of abortion rights in Arkansas remain hopeful that they can eventually succeed in changing the state’s laws. They plan to regroup and potentially launch a new campaign in the future.
Overall, the court’s decision represents a significant victory for anti-abortion advocates in Arkansas, but the debate over abortion access in the state is far from over.
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