Alaska Supreme Court says abortion initiative can appear on August ballot
By Mary Pemberton, APWednesday, June 2, 2010
Court says abortion initiative can be on AK ballot
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled an initiative requiring parental notification for minors seeking an abortion will be on the August primary ballot.
Planned Parenthood had argued key information was withheld from the more than 36,000 voters who signed the initiative petition, including the fact that physicians could face charges if they fail to properly inform a parent.
Attorneys for the initiative sponsors and the state argued flaws in the sign-up sheets’ written summary minor and could be corrected on the ballot.
Alaska’s highest court ruled Wednesday any petition deficiencies weren’t enough to make initiative sponsors begin the process anew.
Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the ACLU of Alaska, says similar initiatives proposed in the last four or five years in California and other states have failed.
