After a wave of successful efforts led by citizens To expand abortion rights through ballot papers, some state laws make it more difficult for members of the public to take such measures for voters.
Florida, which was the newest state at the end of last week, which laid down stricter rules surrounding the trial, is already confronted with a lawsuit about whether the imposition of more restrictions on the billion initiative process is constitutional. The suit was brought by a group, Florida definitely healthcareThat tries to get a proposal on next year’s ballot to expand Medicaid in the state.
The group, which is confronted with a Deadline of February to collect nearly 900,000 signatures from residents who support the plan, said that the new law made characteristic collectors nervous.
The law imposes a possible criminal fine if someone who circulates petitions does not register with the state; limits up to 25 the number of signatures that a non -registered cloth can collect; Requires canvassers to collect more identifying information and shortens the time frame for submitting a petition up to 10 days after signatures have been received.
“This is not about transparency or accountability about control,” said Holly Bullard, the co-chairman of the organization that sued. The process led by the citizen, added, “is not perfect, but it is powerful. And that is precisely why they try to undermine it.”
Government Ron Desantis, in a post On social media said that the bill, which he signed on Friday, would “fight petitions fraud and prevent the special interest of interest of our constitutional change process.” A report prepared The State Security and Security Office charged that some organizers and proposers Behind last year’s abortion vote, ‘widespread petition fraud’ had committed. But the State did not challenge signatures earlier this year when it had a chance.
Less than half of the 50 states of the country Allow citizens to collect signatures And to place proposals on the mood. State laws can also ask questions about the vote and usually the vast majority of the constitutional changes author.
But after the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022, States were in order to limit access to abortion, abortion rights groups turned to the voice initiative process as a way to bypass conservative legislators and to place the issue of access to abortion directly before voters.
The new limitations in Florida are comparable to various who were approved last month in Arkansas, where The proposers have almost succeeded in getting an amendment to abortion rights Last year on the mood. The state led by the Republicans recently needed that a certain minimum Signatures are obtained in at least 50 of its 75 provinces, more than double the previous threshold.
One of the new requirements in Arkansas are organizers to apply for photo -identification of potential signatories and that wipes must be permanent residents of the state. Both are already faced with legal challenges.
Other states who have tried to sharpen the rules are North Dakota, where A resolution that was hired last month Increases the Threshold of voter support up to 60 percent For a ballot initiative, and South Dakota, where voters in the next general elections will decide whether To introduce the same change.
In Zuid -Dakota, however, Larry Rhoden government, a Republican, Veto a bill That would have imposed harder geographical requirements for collecting signatures.
In Florida there are proposed constitutional changes that expand abortion rights and the legalization of recreational marijuana measures just failed last fall, although more than half of the voters supported them. The State requires that 60 percent of voters approve such measures to become the law.
Citizens guided abortion rights proposals were successful in more than half a dozen states, including more conservative states such as Ohio and Kansas. Some states raised the threshold for collecting signatures and additional requirements about where at least some signatures must be collected to guarantee a fair geographical representation. At least one, Nevada, requires that a majority of voters approve a proposed change in two consecutive elections to become the law.
The citizens’ initiative process was repeatedly used in Florida to provide initiatives, despite strong opposition against the conservative leadership of the state. Voters approved a proposal in 2016 To make a medical marijuana programAnd another one to restore the voting rights to no fewer than 1.5 million people with convictions of crime. (After the voting Passed in 2018, the legislative power sharply restricted.)
“These are not completely new, but the size of the attacks has certainly grown,” said Alice Clapman, a senior adviser in the voting rights and election program of the Brennan Center, about legislative efforts to reject the parameters around the amendment process.
She wondered why adding more rules was needed in Florida, where the threshold of 60 percent for Passage for many initiatives has remained a barrier.
Mitch Smith contributed reporting.