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| Mississippi voters decide if fertilized egg is a person | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Mississippi is voting on a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it the first US state to define a fertilized human egg as a person. | |
| The measure would confer rights on an embryo from the moment of conception, effectively outlawing abortion, even in cases of rape and incest. | The measure would confer rights on an embryo from the moment of conception, effectively outlawing abortion, even in cases of rape and incest. |
| A survey found that that 45% of voters in Mississippi backed the measure, 44% were against, and 11% undecided. | A survey found that that 45% of voters in Mississippi backed the measure, 44% were against, and 11% undecided. |
| But even if it does pass, it is likely to be inundated with legal challenges. | But even if it does pass, it is likely to be inundated with legal challenges. |
| Under the so-called personhood ballot, voters on Tuesday are being asked: "Should the term 'person' be defined to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof?" | Under the so-called personhood ballot, voters on Tuesday are being asked: "Should the term 'person' be defined to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof?" |
| Backers of the amendment to the state's constitution collected more than 100,000 signatures from registered voters to introduce it to the ballot. | |
| "Personhood is the key to all human rights," said Keith Mason, president of Personhood USA. "We believe that by legally changing the definition of what a person is, it can undermine Roe v Wade and outlaw abortion." | "Personhood is the key to all human rights," said Keith Mason, president of Personhood USA. "We believe that by legally changing the definition of what a person is, it can undermine Roe v Wade and outlaw abortion." |
| Roe v Wade is the 1973 Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in the United States. | Roe v Wade is the 1973 Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in the United States. |
| Tuesday's vote could also lead to the banning of some birth control methods in Mississippi. | Tuesday's vote could also lead to the banning of some birth control methods in Mississippi. |
| The amendment has attracted strong support in the conservative and religious state, which has a single abortion clinic. | The amendment has attracted strong support in the conservative and religious state, which has a single abortion clinic. |
| The state's Democratic and Republican candidates for governor, who are also running for election on Tuesday, have both come out in favour of the amendment. | The state's Democratic and Republican candidates for governor, who are also running for election on Tuesday, have both come out in favour of the amendment. |
| But opponents say that there could be wide-ranging legal repercussions if an embryo has equal rights to its mother. | But opponents say that there could be wide-ranging legal repercussions if an embryo has equal rights to its mother. |
| Dr Randall Hines, a Mississippi infertility specialist, said: "This amendment represents the greatest moment of government interference in the delivery of health care that we've ever seen." | Dr Randall Hines, a Mississippi infertility specialist, said: "This amendment represents the greatest moment of government interference in the delivery of health care that we've ever seen." |
| The initiative will probably pass but will not survive anticipated legal challenges, according to one commentator. | The initiative will probably pass but will not survive anticipated legal challenges, according to one commentator. |
| Marty Wiseman, director of the John C Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, told Reuters news agency: "Mississippi can't negate Roe v Wade, which this would do." | Marty Wiseman, director of the John C Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, told Reuters news agency: "Mississippi can't negate Roe v Wade, which this would do." |
| "Who knows the twists and turns it is going to take before it is shot down by the Supreme Court," he added. | "Who knows the twists and turns it is going to take before it is shot down by the Supreme Court," he added. |
| Personhood campaigners are also hoping to put the question to voters in the US states of Ohio, Florida, and South Dakota in 2012. | Personhood campaigners are also hoping to put the question to voters in the US states of Ohio, Florida, and South Dakota in 2012. |
| But similar measures have been rejected twice by wide margins by voters in Colorado in 2008 and 2010. | But similar measures have been rejected twice by wide margins by voters in Colorado in 2008 and 2010. |
| Do you back the measure? Or are you against the amendment? What is your definition of the term 'person'? You can get in touch with the BBC using the form below: | Do you back the measure? Or are you against the amendment? What is your definition of the term 'person'? You can get in touch with the BBC using the form below: |