Organizers behind an abortion-rights amendment that will appear on Missouri’s November ballot filed a lawsuit last week alleging the “fair ballot language” written by the secretary of state’s office is “intentionally argumentative” and bound to create confusion for voters.
Amendment 3 asks voters if they want to legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability. Abortion has been illegal in Missouri, with only limited exceptions for the life and health of the mother, since June 2022.
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft certified the measure for the ballot last week. On the same day, the office published on its website the amendment’s fair ballot language statement, which is meant to be posted at every polling place next to the sample ballot.
The language listed on the secretary of state’s website as of Tuesday reads: “A ‘yes’ vote will enshrine the right to abortion at any time of pregnancy in the Missouri Constitution. Additionally, it will prohibit any regulation of abortion, including regulations designed to protect women undergoing abortions and prohibit any civil or criminal recourse against anyone who performs an abortion and hurts or kills the pregnant women.”