State Canvassers Expected to Reject Anti-Abortion Ballot Initiative

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers today is expected to reject petitions that would have placed a proposal to ban the second trimester “dilation and evacuation” abortion procedure on the November Michigan ballot.

Organizers led by the Michigan Values Life Committee needed 340,000 signatures to push the issue forward. They say they turned in 380,000 signatures, but election bureau staff members say only about 333,000 are valid – 7,000 short of the mark.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing says her group will challenge the finding.

If the proposal is approved for the ballot, voters will still probably not get to decide it. Under Michigan law, initiatives can be enacted and removed from the ballot if they are passed by both the House and the Senate. The governor has no veto power. The Republican-led chambers would be likely to take that action.