Denver, Colo., Aug 3, 2007 / 08:05 am
A Colorado state board approved a ballot measure on Wednesday to define personhood in the Colorado Constitution as a fertilized egg. The board rejected arguments that were presented by several pro-abortion groups, including the Colorado Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, against the measure.
According to the Denver Post, the three-member Ballot Title Board, led by Deputy Secretary of State William Hobbs, said it does not judge the merits of a measure, just the ballot language. The language about personhood is clear, they said.
The ballot measure is sponsored by Colorado for Equal Rights, led by 19-year-old Kristine Burton. The initiative would lay the foundation for making abortion and certain forms of contraception illegal in the state.
Colorado for Equal Rights wants voters to amend the constitution in November 2008 to define a person as any human being from the moment of fertilization for the purposes of protecting inalienable rights to life and liberty, equality of justice and due process of law.
In order to get the measure on the ballot, the group must now get petition wording approved by the secretary of state and then collect more than 76,000 voter signatures in six months.