In the Midterms: In the Midterms, West Virginia votes to declare state constitution has no ‘right to

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SOURCE: LIFE SITE NEWS

URL: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/west-virginia-votes-to-keep-abortion-rights-out-of-state-constitution

by Calvin Freiburger


Pro-lifers won a major victory in West Virginia Tuesday, as voters approved a ballot initiative clarifying that the state constitution contains no “right” to abortion.

With 97% of precincts reporting in, Amendment 1 passed by a margin of 17,184 votes, West Virginia Metro News reports. It amends the West Virginia Constitution to include a line stating, “Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.”

The measure is meant to counteract a 1993 ruling by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals that has long forced Medicaid to fund abortions as a state-level constitutional "right.” While its success does not affect or override Roe v. Wade, it does ensure that the state Constitution can’t be used as a basis to strike down duly-enacted pro-life laws in the Mountain State.

Pro-life scholar Michael New hailed the referendum as the most consequential pro-life success of the election, noting it will directly save “hundreds” of babies annually:

Republican Senate candidates are having a good night, but in my opinion the most important pro-life victory was the passage of Amendment 1 in West Virginia. Stopping taxpayer funding for abortion will save hundreds of preborn lives every year! #ElectionNight #profile

— Michael New (@Michael_J_New) November 7, 2018

“Over the years, West Virginia taxpayers have been forced to fund the destruction of more than 35,000 innocent unborn children – including late-term abortions – at a cost of nearly 10 million dollars. This outrageous abuse ends now,” Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser said. “SBA List’s field team spent months on the ground in West Virginia educating more than 110,000 voters, urging them to vote yes on this vital initiative. The passage of Amendment 1 is a victory for the Mountain State and we hope other states will follow their lead.”

SBA List spent $500,000 this campaign season to educate West Virginia voters on the amendment’s importance.

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