Election aftermath: Two out of three GOP-backed measures approved by Mississippi voters

November 8, 2011

By Al Ortiz

JACKSON, Mississippi: Mississippi voters haven't had a chance to vote on citizen initiatives this century, until November 8.

The long-awaited vote on three citizen-initiated constitutional amendments has come and gone, and voters approved two.

Initiative 26, perhaps the most controversial of the three proposals, which were dubbed a "GOP trifecta" by some reports out of the state, was narrowly defeated with 53% of voters rejecting it as of 11:00 p.m. EST. The amendment would have added language to the Mississippi Constitution that declared that life begins at "the moment of fertilization."

The state requires a 24-hour waiting period and counseling before all abortions and minors are required to have both parents' consent. The state has one abortion clinic.

The Associated Press categorized the measure as defeated with 1,454 out of 1,876 precincts reporting.

Initiative 27, the voter identification measure, obtained 63% of voter approval, and the eminent domain measure, Initiative 31, saw 74% of state voters pulling the 'yes' lever.

Unofficial election results will be updated here. Final numbers will be reported by November 9, 2011.

Measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
IndICA	Initiative 26	Abortion	Defines human personhood as beginning at the moment of fertilization	d
IndICA	Initiative 27	Elections	Would require Voter ID at the polls	a
IndICA	Initiative 31	Eminent domain	Prohibit state & local government from taking private property by eminent domain.	a

See also

• Mississippi 2011 ballot measures
• 2011 ballot measures
• Mississippi Legislature