Did you know that anti-choice advocates in South Dakota are once again trying to ban abortion?

In November 2006, South Dakota voters clearly rejected—by a 56% to 44% margin—a near-total ban on abortion.
 
Despite their failure in 2006, anti-choice advocates in South Dakota collected the signatures necessary to put another abortion ban on the November 2008 ballot.  South Dakota already imposes numerous restrictions on women’s access to abortion care and other reproductive health services, yet this ban would open the door for more government interference in these personal decisions.

Under the proposed ban, a doctor who violated the law would face 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

This proposed law is unconstitutional, and if approved by the state’s voters, it would more than likely be challenged in court.

Initiative Petition, An Act to Protect the Lives of Unborn Children, available here (last visited May 5, 2008); Carson Walker, Petition Effort Seeks to Ban Most Abortions, Assoc. Press, Dec. 15, 2007; Chet Brokaw, Many Lawmakers Support Another Vote on Abortion, Assoc. Press, Jan. 6, 2008; S.D. Codified Laws § 22-6-1(7)(Enacted 1939; Last Amended 2005).