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Mississippi voters reject life at conception amendment | Mississippi voters reject life at conception amendment |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Mississippi residents have rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to define a fertilized human egg as a person. | Mississippi residents have rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to define a fertilized human egg as a person. |
The measure would have conferred rights on an embryo from the moment of conception, effectively outlawing abortion, even in rape or incest cases. | The measure would have conferred rights on an embryo from the moment of conception, effectively outlawing abortion, even in rape or incest cases. |
More than 55% of voters dismissed the so-called personhood initiative. | More than 55% of voters dismissed the so-called personhood initiative. |
Mississippi already has tough abortion regulations and a single clinic that performs the procedure. | Mississippi already has tough abortion regulations and a single clinic that performs the procedure. |
Correspondents say that even if the amendment had passed it would have faced legal challenges, as it contradicts the right to abortion established by the Roe v Wade Supreme Court ruling of 1973. | Correspondents say that even if the amendment had passed it would have faced legal challenges, as it contradicts the right to abortion established by the Roe v Wade Supreme Court ruling of 1973. |
Voters on Tuesday were asked: "Should the term 'person' be defined to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof?" | Voters on Tuesday were 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 had collected more than 100,000 signatures from registered voters to introduce it to the ballot. | Backers of the amendment to the state's constitution had collected more than 100,000 signatures from registered voters to introduce it to the ballot. |
The amendment could have also led to the banning of some birth control methods in Mississippi. | The amendment could have also led to the banning of some birth control methods in Mississippi. |
It had attracted strong support in the conservative and religious state. | It had attracted strong support in the conservative and religious state. |
A poll taken before the vote found that 45% of voters in Mississippi backed the measure, 44% were against, and 11% undecided. | A poll taken before the vote found that 45% of voters in Mississippi backed the measure, 44% were against, and 11% undecided. |
The state's Democratic and Republican candidates for governor, who also ran for election on Tuesday, both came out in favour of the amendment. | The state's Democratic and Republican candidates for governor, who also ran for election on Tuesday, both came out in favour of the amendment. |
Voters elected Republican Phil Bryant to succeed outgoing Governor Haley Barbour. Mr Bryant had been quoted as telling supporters that "Satan wins" if the personhood measure failed. | |
But opponents said that there could have been wide-ranging legal repercussions if an embryo was granted equal rights to its mother. | But opponents said that there could have been wide-ranging legal repercussions if an embryo was granted equal rights to its mother. |
Personhood campaigners also hope to put the question to voters in the US states of Ohio, Florida, and South Dakota in 2012. | Personhood campaigners also hope 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. |