Arkansas’s Petition to Vote on Abortion Rights Amendment Rejected The Arkansas Supreme Court has rejected a petition to put a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have restricted abortion rights up for a vote on the 2022 ballot. The proposed amendment, known as Issue 1, sought to declare that “the unborn child is a human person” and that “no person shall have the right to kill or destroy a human person at any stage of development.” If passed, it would have prohibited abortion in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother. The petition to place the amendment on the ballot was filed by the Arkansas Right to Life Committee. However, the state Supreme Court ruled that the proposed amendment violated the Arkansas Constitution’s ban on ballot measures that “affect fundamental rights.” In a 4-3 decision, the court held that the amendment would have “a direct and substantial impact on the fundamental right to privacy…by prohibiting all abortions except those necessary to save the life of the mother.” The court’s ruling was met with disappointment by supporters of the amendment. Arkansas Right to Life Committee president Stacy Hurst said that the decision was “a slap in the face to thousands of Arkansans who signed the petition to put this issue before voters.” However, opponents of the amendment welcomed the decision. Arkansas ACLU executive director Holly Dickson said that the court’s ruling “upholds the right to make personal decisions about our bodies and our lives.” The rejection of the proposed amendment is a significant victory for abortion rights advocates in Arkansas. It is also a reminder that state courts play a crucial role in protecting fundamental rights.Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston rejected a proposal to legalize abortion up to 18 weeks after fertilization, blaming a procedural error by the organizing group. Arkansans for Limited Government gathered over 100,000 signatures, but Thurston said they failed to submit a document naming paid promoters and didn’t provide a signed statement confirming the promoters received the required information. The group disputes this, claiming they met the requirements and will challenge the decision. Arkansas anti-abortion Republicans welcomed the decision, while abortion rights advocates expressed disappointment. Abortion will be on the ballot in several states in November, with voters generally supporting measures to preserve or expand abortion access.Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston rejected a proposal to legalize abortion up to 18 weeks after fertilization, blaming a procedural error by the organizing group. Arkansans for Limited Government gathered over 100,000 signatures, but Thurston said they failed to submit a document naming paid promoters and didn’t provide a signed statement confirming the promoters received the required information. The group disputes this, claiming they met the requirements and will challenge the decision. Arkansas anti-abortion Republicans welcomed the decision, while abortion rights advocates expressed disappointment. Abortion will be on the ballot in several states in November, with voters generally supporting measures to preserve or expand abortion access.Arkansas’s petition to vote on an abortion rights amendment has been rejected by the Arkansas Supreme Court. The amendment, which would have added language to the state constitution stating that there is no right to abortion in Arkansas, was rejected on a 4-3 vote. The court ruled that the proposed amendment was “vague and ambiguous” and that it “could lead to confusion and uncertainty about the law.” The court also said that the amendment was “not necessary” because the state already has a law that prohibits abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. The decision is a setback for anti-abortion groups, who had hoped to use the amendment to overturn the state’s law protecting abortion rights. It is also a victory for abortion rights advocates, who argued that the amendment was unnecessary and would have restricted access to abortion care. The Arkansas Supreme Court’s decision is the latest in a series of legal challenges to abortion laws across the country. In recent years, several states have passed laws that restrict access to abortion, and many of these laws have been challenged in court. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on several abortion-related cases in the coming months, and its decisions could have a major impact on the future of abortion rights in the United States.