Scumbag legislators in Kansas seek to add anti-abortion clause to state constitution with confusing language
The Republican-dominated legislature in Kansas passed an abortion restriction, which a judge tossed out as it violated the state's constitution. Tomorrow, voters in Kansas will vote on amending the constitution by adding an anti-abortion clause. However, the wording of the amendment is deliberately confusing. Voting for the amendment is anti-abortion; voting against it is pro-choice. See for yourself.
This makes it sound like abortion is already illegal in Kansas (which is incorrect), and voting for the amendment will secure a right to abortion with reasonable protections (rape, incest, and the mother's life). In reality, this amendment will allow Kansas to ban all abortions.
This weaselly language isn't the first time a ballot initiative has played the "yes means no and no means yes" game; it's just the latest. Hopefully pro-choice groups have publicized this and everyone casting their ballot tomorrow will at least know what they're voting for. This election is significant as it's the first post-Dobbs one where people are voting on whether to allow abortion in their state or not. In 2013, Kansas declared that "life begins at conception," so passage of this amendment could allow the state to ban all abortions, based on the "not limited to" wording.
§ 22. Regulation of abortion. Because Kansans value both women and children, the constitution of the state of Kansas does not require government funding of abortion and does not create or secure a right to abortion. To the extent permitted by the constitution of the United States, the people, through their elected state representatives and state senators, may pass laws regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, laws that account for circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, or circumstances of necessity to save the life of the mother.
This makes it sound like abortion is already illegal in Kansas (which is incorrect), and voting for the amendment will secure a right to abortion with reasonable protections (rape, incest, and the mother's life). In reality, this amendment will allow Kansas to ban all abortions.
This weaselly language isn't the first time a ballot initiative has played the "yes means no and no means yes" game; it's just the latest. Hopefully pro-choice groups have publicized this and everyone casting their ballot tomorrow will at least know what they're voting for. This election is significant as it's the first post-Dobbs one where people are voting on whether to allow abortion in their state or not. In 2013, Kansas declared that "life begins at conception," so passage of this amendment could allow the state to ban all abortions, based on the "not limited to" wording.
