Word spacing issue keeps abortion rights amendment from ballot; court fight expected

The Michigan State Supreme Court may get the last word on whether Michigan voters will get the chance to weigh in this November on two hotly-contested ballot initiatives: a proposed amendment to the state constitution to protect the right to an abortion and a major legislative expansion of voter access. Both initiatives stalled on their way to the November ballot within hours of each other, after the Board of State Canvassers deadlocked along party-lines on each measure. Opponents of the abortion rights measure cite a technical issue (many words on the proposed amendment lack spacing between them and so constitute “gibberish”), whereas opponents of the voting rights initiative argue it fails to cite which parts of Michigan’s constitution and standing laws it might change or repeal. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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