Activists in South Dakota pushing for a referendum to overturn the state's ban on abortion, and have already collected one-third of the signatures necessary to put the issue on the ballot in November. A group called South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families is leading the initiative, with over 400 volunteers working to collect signatures, reports the Los Angeles Times. If they collect 16,728 valid signatures before June 19, voters will have a chance to strike down the law in November
Volunteers were optimistic, sometimes collecting 75 signatures in under two hours, and high-school senior Serri Graslie told the Times that “I have renewed faith in the people of South Dakota. This is turning out much better than I thought.”
The National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF), which supports the ballot initiative, has announced its readiness to support the women of South Dakota should the ban go into effect on July 1. The National Reproductive Justice Fund will provide funding to assist women from South Dakota and other states considering abortion bans. Executive Director Stephanie Poggi said, “Our new national fund will ensure that women have the resources and help they need to obtain abortions – no matter what the South Dakota legislature does.”
11/19/2009 Suit Filed in Attempt to Force DC Definition of Marriage Vote - Bishop Harry Jackson filed a lawsuit against the Washington, DC Board of Elections and Ethics Wednesday, in an attempt to force a ballot initiative on same-sex marriage in the District. . . .