Personhood Colorado sues to make November ballot

The antiabortion movement is fighting the state to get a ballot measure in November

Published October 1, 2012 4:12PM (EDT)

                     (<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-302563p1.html?cr=00&pl=edit-00">Ryan Rodrick Beiler</a> / <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/?cr=00&pl=edit-00">Shutterstock.com</a>)
(Ryan Rodrick Beiler / Shutterstock.com)

The Colorado Personhood Coalition is suing to get a measure on the November ballot that, if adopted, would change the state constitution to define life as beginning at conception.

The group announced that it would file the lawsuit in District Court challenging Secretary of State Scott Gessler's ruling that it had failed to come up with enough signatures to land on the ballot, by 3,859.

The Denver Post reports:

"By law, the coalition had 30 days from the Secretary of State Scott Gessler's Aug. 29 announcement to prove to the court it had gathered enough valid voter signatures. However, state officials said, even if they made their case — the ballot certification deadline was Sept. 10 — the proposed 'personhood' amendment to the state constitution, Initiative 46, would have to wait until the 2014 general election."

The coalition said that Gessler "misapplied the laws" when he deemed several thousand of the signatures invalid.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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2012 Elections Abortion Barack Obama Colorado Personhood