LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (OSV News) ─ The Arkansas Supreme Court issued a ruling Aug. 22, saying supporters of the Arkansas Abortion Amendment failed to meet state guidelines to get the amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Arkansas voters won't consider the amendment this year.
Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston decided July 10 that Arkansans for Limited Government didn't follow rules regarding paid canvassers. Signatures gathered by those canvassers weren't counted toward the requirements to get the constitutional amendment on the ballot. Volunteer canvassers gathered 87,675 signatures but 90,704 were required.
A lawsuit was filed by Arkansans for Limited Government to overturn the decision of the Secretary of State.
Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life, said her organization was involved in efforts to defeat the amendment and will continue working to support pregnant mothers and their children through educational and outreach programs.
"Arkansas has dodged a deadly assault on our women and children with the disqualification of the amendment for the 2024 ballot, and we are extremely grateful to the court for their rejection of the amendment as the law required and for the reprieve that Arkansas women and their babies will enjoy for at least the next two years until they try again," she said.
The Diocese of Little Rock Respect Life Office launched its "Decline to Sign" campaign in March to ask Catholics not to sign the petition. Posters and informational cards were placed in all parishes in English and Spanish through July 5 while canvassers were collecting signatures.
"We give thanks to God that the proposed unjust law, which would have resulted in the death of children and lifelong harm to both mothers and fathers, will not move forward," respect life director Catherine Phillips said. "As we give thanks we are also called to rededicate ourselves to serving the cause of life. Strengthened by our Eucharistic Lord, we must embrace opportunities to serve pregnant women and families in need with charity.
"We must also welcome our privilege of accompanying individuals who have been injured by abortion and support confidential, non-judgmental healing opportunities to experience God's infinite mercy."
If approved by voters in November, unrestricted abortion would have been allowed in the state "within 18 weeks of fertilization."
Mimms said, "This extreme measure would forever change the Arkansas Constitution to allow abortion up until birth and 'all provisions of the constitution, statutes and common laws of this state to the extent inconsistent or in conflict with any provision of this Amendment are expressly declared null and void ... that would prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict abortion services.'"
If the amendment was approved in November, Arkansas Right to Life said the amendment would have forbidden "future governmental actions to ensure the safety, health and lives of pregnant women and newborns in Arkansas in an unregulated and unaccountable abortion industry in our state."
Abortion-related constitutional amendments will be on the ballot in several states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Nebraska and South Dakota.
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Malea Hargett is editor of the Arkansas Catholic, newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock.
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