Thanks to MTpika who reported this in the comments of yesterday’s diary.
Big (good!) update from MT on its fight to get a reproductive rights initiative on the Nov. ballot: In a hearing yesterday, a judge ordered (via temporary restraining order) the MAGA sect’y of state to accept the “inactive voter” signatures that she had instructed county officials to reject. The judge’s order also, in effect, extends the deadline for finalizing signature verification to give the SOS and county election offices enough time to remedy the SOS’s attempted ratfuckery. The link below is a fairly long article but the box toward the bottom of it has a synopsis of the judge’s order to the SOS.
Montana judge tells Secretary of State not to change rules midstream for counting signatures
dailymontanan.com/…
The Montana Secretary of State can’t automatically reject signatures of “inactive” voters who signed petitions to place Constitutional initiatives on the ballot, a Lewis and Clark County District Court judge ruled Tuesday, as he granted a temporary restraining order.
One initiative would make it a constitutional right in Montana to make one’s own decisions about pregnancy, including abortion, and two others would change the way elections are won in the state.
At a hearing Tuesday, lawyer Martha Sheehy said the Secretary of State’s decision to change which signatures count on a petition was “particularly galling” for Montanans for Election Reform, a group proposing to “increase meaningful voter access and participation.”
…
Judge Mike Menahan, however, said his focus wasn’t on whether the initiatives from those two groups would qualify for the ballot. Rather, he said, Montanans have a fundamental right to participate in their government, and that includes signing a petition for a Constitutional initiative.
— Daily Montanan
Great news for Montana. This does not directly affect the Arkansas case but, you have to admit, the judges sentiment is in the right place.
Urgent Email From Arkansans For Limited Government.
I’m just going to copy the whole letter.
Friends,
Our legal action is a direct response to the Secretary's refusal to count over 101,000 signatures from Arkansas voters. This refusal is an attempt to silence your voices through bureaucratic maneuvers, and we won't stand for it. We are asking the Court to vacate the Secretary’s determination and order him to begin counting those signatures immediately.
This isn't just about abortion access—it's also about ensuring that the people of Arkansas have the right to make their voices heard. The Secretary’s actions are a clear violation of Arkansas law and an insult to our state’s proud motto, Regnat Populus: The People Rule.
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Lauren Cowles, AFLG’s Executive Director, said it best: “Our compliance with the law is clear and well-documented. The Secretary of State’s refusal to count valid signatures is an affront to democracy and an attempt to undermine the will of the people.”
We are determined to ensure that the voices of over 101,000 Arkansas voters are heard. Our legal challenge at the Arkansas Supreme Court aims to hold the Secretary accountable and ensure he lawfully executes his duty to count every signature.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to this cause. Together, we are making a difference and fighting for a future where reproductive rights are protected in Arkansas. Stay tuned for more updates.
In solidarity,
The AFLG Team
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Join the AFLG Urgent News email list at the top action link, below.
Abortion amendment supporters ask Arkansas Supreme Court to overturn Secretary of State’s rejection
arkansasadvocate.com/...
The Arkansas Advocate Reports
Dispute involves whether submitted paperwork complies with state law
“The Secretary’s unlawful rejection of AFLG’s initiative petition prevents the people of Arkansas from exercising their right to adopt, or reject, the Amendment,” the committee said in a statement Tuesday. “This Court should correct the Secretary’s error and reaffirm Arkansas’s motto, Regnat Populus, The People Rule.”
The committee said Thursday it did in fact submit the required accompanying documents to Thurston’s office multiple times, including on July 5. State law requires an affidavit identifying paid canvassers by name and proof that the ballot question committee explained to canvassers the state’s laws for soliciting signatures and provided them with the Secretary of State’s initiatives and referenda handbook before they started canvassing.
Chris Powell, Thurston’s spokesman, provided the Arkansas Advocate last week with all the documents AFLG submitted July 5 upon request. The documents include a list of paid canvassers, with a stamp from the Secretary of State’s office indicating it was filed July 5.
— Arkansas Advocate
Action
Join the email list at arliberty.org. This will keep you abreast of the latest news from AFLG.
And donate
Donation page here, arliberty.org/… Merch page here, shop.arliberty.org
Even though they won their lawsuit in Montana there’s still a fight ahead to get the amendment on the ballot. You didn’t think the Republicans were going to quit their voter nullification just because a judge told them to? (rhetorical question)
Donate to the Montana effort.
mtreprorights.org
Rec this diary for exposure. I’m following this story daily and I can’t wait to report that the Secretary Of States office folds and they are counting the signatures.
The Lord rested on the seventh day but I am not following his precedent. As long as there is breaking news I’ll be reporting daily. And yes this is the seventh diary on the abortion rights amendment and voter nullification in Arkansas. Links to the others in the comments. (Sorry, this is the eighth diary. Links to the other seven in the comments.)
If you live in Arkansas and you haven’t registered to vote please do that now. If you don’t know how to register go to the AFLG website at arliberty.org. They will help you get registered to vote. We will need you to vote on the amendment after the signatures are counted and it gets on the ballot. (Speaking optimistically)
Here’s a good link for voter registration nationwide. If you aren’t registered register now. If you think you’re registered, check. Don’t wait until election day to find out you’ve been purged.
www.vote.org
Please post your news on this national issue in the comments.
Please add more action links and strategies in the comments.
There’s a reason why Republicans are doing this. If the amendments are put on the ballot they will pass. Republicans know this but they don’t care about voter’s rights any more than they care about abortion rights.
Count the signatures!
Count the signatures!
Thanks
