South Dakota Initiative 11, Abortion Ban Measure (2008)

South Dakota Initiative 11
Election date November 4, 2008
Topic Abortion
Status d Defeated
Type State statute	Origin Citizens

South Dakota Initiative 11 was on the ballot as an initiated state statute in South Dakota on November 4, 2008. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported banning all abortion procedures except in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the pregnant woman.

A "no" vote opposed banning all abortion procedures except in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the pregnant woman.

South Dakota Initiative 11
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		167,560	44.79%
No		206,535	55.21%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Measure design

See also: Text of measure

The measure would have outlawed all abortion procedures in South Dakota except those performed in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the pregnant woman.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Initiative 11 was as follows:

“

An Initiative to prohibit abortions except in cases where the mother's life or health is at a substantial and irreversible risk, and in cases of reported rape and incest.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• Former South Dakota Lt. Gov. Steve Kirby (D)

Arguments

• Former South Dakota Lt. Gov. Steve Kirby: "Suzie and I have been supportive of the pro-life movement. We felt the measure was sort of a middle-of-the-road, incremental move in the pro-life arena. Because of that, we felt led to make the contribution that we did."

Opposition

Opponents

Organizations

• American Civil Liberties Union

Arguments

• ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero: "The measure in South Dakota would allow politicians to interfere with personal decisions best made by women and their families."

Path to the ballot

Citizens in South Dakota have the power of initiative. This ballot measure was placed on the ballot through an initiative petition.

See also

2008 Measures

• 2008 Measures
• Abortion policy on the ballot
• 2008 legislative sessions

South Dakota

• South Dakota ballot measures
• South Dakota ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• South Dakota Political Almanac, South Dakota Constitutional Amendments, Initiatives and Referendums 1970-2010
• South Dakota Secretary of State: 2008 Ballot Question Text
• South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families