Iowa Amendment 1, Equal Rights Regardless of Gender Measure (1980)
| Iowa Amendment 1 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Constitutional rights and Sex and gender issues |
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| Status |
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| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Iowa Amendment 1 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Iowa on November 4, 1980. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported adding language to the state constitution that prohibits the denial or restriction of rights on account of a person's gender. |
A "no" vote opposed adding language to the state constitution that prohibits the denial or restriction of rights on account of a person's gender. |
Election results
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Iowa Amendment 1 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 468,708 | 44.19% | ||
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591,925 | 55.81% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Amendment 1 was as follows:
| “ | Shall the following amendment to the constitution be adopted? [Summary. To ensure that the State shall not deny or restrict the equality of rights under the law on the basis of gender] Section one (1) of Article one (I) of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof: All men and women are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inalienable rights — among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness. Neither the State nor any of its political subdivisions shall, on the basis of gender, deny or restrict the equality of rights under the law. | ” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Iowa Constitution
A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions with an election for state legislators in between for the Iowa State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Iowa House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Iowa State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
See also
Footnotes
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State of Iowa Des Moines (capital) |
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