The South Dakota measure is considered one of the most restrictive in the United States. It bans nearly all abortions, even when pregnancies result from incest or rape. The law says that if a woman's life is in jeopardy, doctors must try to save the fetus as well as the woman. Doctors who perform an abortion could receive a $5,000 fine and five years in prison.
There was fierce opposition to the fact that the law would force women to carry all pregnancies to term with fears of a return to back alley abortions being expressed by people all over the country - regardless of party affiliation.
The South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families said it had obtained nearly 38,000 signatures on a petition aimed at repealing an abortion ban signed into law by Gov. Mike Rounds on March 6.
The petition would be filed with the Secretary of State's office on Tuesday afternoon, and if at least 16,728 signatures are certified as valid, the scheduled July 1 implementation of the ban would be nullified and voters would be allowed to decide the issue at the ballot box in November.
The people of South Dakota ... do not support this extreme ban," said Jan Nicolay, a former Republican state representative and co-chair of the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families.
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The women of South Dakota deserve choice - in all circumstances.
This petition filing will launch what will likely be a nasty campaign as those in favour of the ban will push extremely hard to ensure that the law is upheld in November. The usually quiet state of South Dakota will now become a battleground for the most divisive issue in society today. Let's make sure that women win in the end.
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