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(CNSNews.com) – While abortion was indirectly on the ballot for many voters across the nation in Tuesday’s midterm election, it was also the subject of specific ballot measures in five states – with results disappointing for pro-lifers.
In California, Michigan and Vermont, voters were considering measures enshrining abortion “rights” in the constitutions of each state (abortion is already legal under state law in California and Vermont), while in Kentucky and Montana, voters faced decisions on ballot measures designed to limit access to abortions.
As of at 2 AM Wednesday eastern time, support for Montana’s Legislative Referendum 131 was lagging behind, by around 45.5 points to 54.5, although with only around half of the votes tallied.
The referendum asked voters in Montana to adopt the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, which declares that babies born alive, including after an attempted abortion, are legal persons.
The legislation also imposes criminal penalties on health care workers who don’t take “medically appropriate and reasonable actions” to preserve the lives of those babies
A born-alive baby is defined as one “who breathes, has a beating heart, or has definite movement of voluntary muscles, after the complete expulsion or extraction from the mother.”
In Kentucky, meanwhile, Constitutional Amendment 2 was looking likely to be defeated, with the tally at 2 AM eastern time standing at 51.6 percent against and 48.4 percent in favor.
The measure seeks to amend the Kentucky constitution to state that “to protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.”
In Michigan, as of 2 AM eastern time, Proposal 3 had the support of 54.8 percent of voters while 45.2 percent opposed it.
The proposal would provide a state constitutional “right to make and effectuate decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management, and infertility care.”
In California, Proposition 1 was winning by a margin of 68 points to 32.
The measure seeks to add to the state’s constitution language saying, “The state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives.”
In Vermont, Proposal 5 was on track to pass by a large margin – 76 percent to 24.
The measure seeks to add to Vermont’s constitution language stating that “an individual’s right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine one’s own life course and shall not be denied or infringed unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”
“The measures in CA, KY, & MI are deeply disappointing & show the need to redouble our efforts of education & persuasion on the value of human life,” tweeted LiveAction president Lila Rose.
“Our movement must match & exceed the reach & resources of the abortion industry, especially on questions directly before voters.”
“Extremely sad day to be a Californian,” Rose said. “Killing children on demand, through all nine months of pregnancy, enshrined into law. May God have mercy on our state.”
Planned Parenthood Action was celebrating the results in the five states.
Of the projected defeat of the Montana measure that seeks to ensure that all babies born alive are cared for, the abortion advocacy group said, “Montana voters — you did this!! You voted for reproductive freedom, rejecting a dangerous attempt to put politicians in charge of our personal medical decisions.”