New York's abortion rights amendment thrown off ballot, for now
Source: Politico
05/07/2024 01:00 PM EDT
ALBANY, New York — A measure that would codify abortion rights in the New York constitution, as well as other equal rights, was tossed off the ballot Tuesday, a blow to Democrats’ efforts to get the question to voters in November.
A conservative judge in upstate Livingston County rejected the measure in a court ruling, questioning the legality of the ballot question. Democrats hope the measure will drive out turnout in a critical election year where New York will have a half dozen battleground House seats that could determine control of the chamber next year.
Democrats plan to appeal with the assumption that Democratic-dominated higher courts will eventually let the ERA stay on the November ballot — one of a number of states with abortion rights measure on the ballot. They have been preparing to use the ERA and its enshrinement of abortion rights into the state constitution as the core of a $20 million effort to drive out voters.
“This is a disappointing court decision, but we will appeal because New Yorkers deserve to be protected by their Constitution, especially as our basic freedoms and rights are under attack,” Attorney General Tish James said in a statement.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/07/equal-right-amendment-era-new-york-00156521
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