An attempt to restore abortions in South Dakota went down to defeat Tuesday.
The Associated Press called the results at 1:49 a.m. Central time Wednesday. The tally at that time was 61% against Amendment G and 39% in favor, with 64% of statewide votes counted.
When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe Vs Wade, a trigger ban adopted by the South Dakota Legislature in 2005 immediately took effect. The ban has an exception for abortions necessary to “preserve the life of the pregnant female.”
Amendment G would have prohibited first-trimester regulations on “a pregnant woman’s abortion decision and its effectuation.” In the second trimester, it would have allowed regulations “reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman.” In the third trimester, it would have allowed an abortion ban with a mandatory exception to “preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman.”
