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INITIATIVE

You can view the initiative in PDF format here.

[LARGER PRINT AVAILABLE HERE]

Initiated Measure 11 will stop abortion from being used as birth control.  It will protect the lives of unborn children, and the interests and health of pregnant mothers, by prohibiting abortions except in cases where the mother's life or health is at risk, and in cases of rape and incest.

Initiated Measure 11 contains the following exceptions:

1) Life of the Mother
2) Health of the Mother
3) Rape of the Mother
4) Incest

As any questions arise, please advise the individual to read the initiative. However, some common questions are arising regarding these exceptions that include the following:

1) Can any woman who says she's been raped or is a victim of incest automatically have an abortion?

No, in sections 5-8 of the initiative, it clearly defines that a woman who indicates she has been raped or is the victim of incest must report the crime prior to seeking an abortion. The abortion clinic is responsible to ensure that the proper reporting has been completed. The reporting includes contacting proper authorities with the woman's name and contact information, details regarding the rape or act of incest and any details regarding the perpetrator. Further, the abortion clinic must obtain the woman's consent to collect evidence from the abortion for DNA analysis and within 24 hours make arrangements to provide the sample to the law. Also, the abortion clinic is responsible to provide counseling referrals to the victim.

2) Does the health exception allow for any woman who says she is suffering emotionally or mentally to have an abortion?

No, in section 4 of the initiative it clearly defines what would constitute a health exception and it does NOT allow for emotional or mental issues. The initiative defines health as a "...serious risk of a substantial and irreversible impairment of the functioning of a major bodily organ or system of the pregnant women should the pregnancy be continued and which risk could be prevented through an abortion, unless in reaching that judgment the physician knowingly disregards accepted standards of medical practice."

3) Why would we want to allow abortions in these cases? Why can't we save all of the babies?

An all out ban on abortion was voted on in 2006 and only 44%, at that time, voted to end abortion in all cases. Polling indicates that a strong majority of South Dakotans will vote to end abortion as birth control allowing for exceptions for rape, incest and health of the mother. Over a dozen attorneys came together, including Larry Long, South Dakota Attorney General, to write this initiative to ensure the strongest language that would be protected in the court of law.

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Misinformation: Our opponents said they just want VoteYesForLife.com to listen to the people of South Dakota who voted by a slim margin not to pass the 2006 abortion referendum.  Correction 1: Those who did not vote for the 2006 Abortion referendum said the main reason was that they wanted an exception for rape and incest.  This bill contains the clear exceptions that the voters of South Dakota asked for.    Correction 2: Our opponents said in 2006 that if this bill had exceptions for rape and incest it would be acceptable.  Now a bill containing the exceptions they demanded is being presented to the citizens of South Dakota.  Why has their tune changed?

Misinformation: Rape and incest victims will be victimized again by the reporting requirements of this bill: Correction: Why are we protecting the criminals committing the crimes of rape and incest?  Nationally, less than 1% of abortions are performed due to rape and incest.

Misinformation: This bill will hurt the doctor / patient relationship for women seeking an abortion for life or health of the mother reasons. Correction: The language in the bill is clear.  If the doctors follow this standard protocol, just as required with other procedures, the doctors will be fine.

Misinformation: South Dakotans do not want to be told by outside groups what they should do and the VoteYesForLife.com organization is being influenced by those outside groups.  Correction: VoteYesForLife.com is receiving help from the best lawyers on this issue to ensure that what we are presenting is constitutionally sound.  Further, our opponents have openly admitted that they are accepting funding and direction from groups and individuals from around the nation.

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DON’T BE FOOLED BY OUR OPPONENTS AND THEIR ABORTIONIST NETWORK.

The People’s Initiative that will appear on the November ballot is a totally South Dakota led and inspired initiative. Here are the facts:

PRO-LIFE BILL:

• The signatures obtained to place the initiative on the ballot are ALL SOUTH DAKOTA VOTERS.

• All of the persons who collected the signatures of these South Dakota voters are ALL SOUTH DAKOTA RESIDENTS, without exception.

• These SOUTH DAKOTA RESIDENTS who collected the petition signatures are UNPAID VOLUNTEERS, acting to PROTECT THE VALUES OF OUR STATE.

• This Bill is the Bill of the people of South Dakota.

BY CONTRAST:

The 2006 petition drive to place the Legislature’s Bill on the ballot supported by our opponents:

• Collected signatures by many out of state people paid on the basis of the number of signatures they obtained.

• Most of the money to wage the abortionist’s campaign came from out of state.

• It was supported by the national abortion industry that profits from the abortions.
  

FACT:

THE ABORTION INDUSTRY that has imported abortion-for-birth control to South Dakota is HEADQUARTERED IN NEW YORK CITY. PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA is a huge northeast corporation that has affiliates all over the country.

We have abortion on demand in South Dakota because they imported it to our state. THE MINNESOTA BASED AFFILIATE OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA flies abortion doctors from OUT OF STATE into our state to do abortions and go back
home.

DON’T LET NEW YORK’S PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA FOOL YOU. This year’s Abortion Bill reflects the values of South Dakota. Don’t let Planned Parenthood Federation of America impose its values on South Dakota with misleading claims

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