Personhood Measures Fail in Both Colorado and North Dakota

So-called “personhood” measures have failed in
both states where
they were on the ballot this election. Voters in North Dakota
rejected Measure 1, a constitutional amendment declaring an
“inalienable right to life of every human being at any stage of
development.” And Colorado voters rejected Amendment 67, Personhood
USA’s efforts to change the Colorado constitution to define “unborn
human beings” as people. 

Personhood USA fought for—and Colorado voters rejected—similar
changes to Colorado’s constitution in 2008 and 2010.

“Voters in Colorado have, for the third time, seen through an
attempt to advance an extreme measure that wouldn’t just ban
abortion, but potentially throw women and their doctors behind bars
for obtaining or providing many basic reproductive health care
services including contraception and fertility treatments,” said
Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive
Rights.

Amendment 67 was rejected by
about 64 percent of Colorado voters, according to The
Denver Post.

The Colorado personhood initiative wasn’t expected to pass, but
anti-abortion advocates had higher hopes for North
Dakota. 

“Today’s victory at the North Dakota ballot box is yet another
in a long history of voters from different political backgrounds
and personal philosophies rejecting these extreme and
unconstitutional ballot measures,” said Northup.