Activists in South Dakota filed their petition yesterday to repeal the state’s extreme abortion ban. The ban was signed into law in March, and prohibits all abortions in the state except to save the life of a woman. Activists quickly mounted a campaign against the law, collecting petition signatures to initiate a referendum on the November ballot.
To give voters a chance to repeal the law, 16,728 verified signatures were necessary by June 19. The South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families, with 1,200 volunteers, more than doubled that requirement, collecting 37,846 signatures weeks before the deadline. Dr. Maria Bell, a sponsor of the petition drive, said in a statement, “Citizens from all 66 South Dakota counties have signed the petitions calling for the repeal of this far-reaching measure. People from all walks of life, young and old, Democrats, Independents and Republicans are saying this law went too far.”
