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| South Dakota rejects abortion ban | South Dakota rejects abortion ban |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Voters in South Dakotans have rejected a near-total ban on abortion, in one of the highest profile state referendums taking place alongside the US polls. | Voters in South Dakotans have rejected a near-total ban on abortion, in one of the highest profile state referendums taking place alongside the US polls. |
| Voters rejected the ban signed into law in March but not yet in effect. | Voters rejected the ban signed into law in March but not yet in effect. |
| In several states, voters rejected gay marriage, by limiting marriage to unions between a man and woman. | In several states, voters rejected gay marriage, by limiting marriage to unions between a man and woman. |
| There were 205 various referendums in 37 states. The referendums, known as ballot measures, are proposed state laws that must be decided by voters. | There were 205 various referendums in 37 states. The referendums, known as ballot measures, are proposed state laws that must be decided by voters. |
| Tobacco and smoking taxes, property rights and minimum wage levels were also big issues put to the vote. | Tobacco and smoking taxes, property rights and minimum wage levels were also big issues put to the vote. |
| Hopes for turnout | Hopes for turnout |
| Missouri approved a measure backing stem cell research, despite the opposition of by George W Bush to much of this research. | |
| Of the eight states where marriage amendments were on the ballot, six - Virginia, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Dakota and Colorado - were headed toward opposing gay marriage. | Of the eight states where marriage amendments were on the ballot, six - Virginia, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Dakota and Colorado - were headed toward opposing gay marriage. |
| Conservatives hoped the votes on same-sex marriage bans might increase turnout for Republicans. | Conservatives hoped the votes on same-sex marriage bans might increase turnout for Republicans. |
| Democrats looked for a boost from low-income voters turning out on behalf of measures to raise the state minimum wage in six states. | Democrats looked for a boost from low-income voters turning out on behalf of measures to raise the state minimum wage in six states. |
| Correspondents said no measure galvanised political activists across the country like the South Dakota abortion measure. | Correspondents said no measure galvanised political activists across the country like the South Dakota abortion measure. |
| The law would have allowed abortions only to save a pregnant woman's life. | The law would have allowed abortions only to save a pregnant woman's life. |
| Had it been upheld, abortion-rights supporters would likely have launched a legal challenge to the 1973 Roe v Wade decision, enshrining a woman's right to an abortion. | Had it been upheld, abortion-rights supporters would likely have launched a legal challenge to the 1973 Roe v Wade decision, enshrining a woman's right to an abortion. |