The group seeking to ban dilation and evacuation abortions in Michigan via citizen-led initiative came up short on signatures, the Michigan Bureau of Elections found.
Michigan Values Life, backed by Right to Life of Michigan and other anti-abortion groups, submitted about 380,000 signatures to the state in an effort to define the procedure as “dismemberment” abortions and make it a felony for a physician to perform one unless it was to save the life of the mother. A total of 340,047 signatures must be deemed valid to move forward in the process.
In 2018, about 7 percent of abortions in Michigan involved dilation and evacuation, which is typically used in abortions after the 14th week of pregnancy. It involves a combination of suction and manual removal of the fetus, and is typically performed in the second trimester of pregnancy.
The state’s staff report on the petition released Thursday estimated the petition is short 7,276 signatures based on an in-depth review of a 500-signature sample. The ultimate decision on whether to certify the signatures lies with the Board of State Canvassers.
Under the sampling system, Bureau of Elections staff recommends certification if more than 465 signatures were deemed valid, a larger sample is triggered if at least 449 signatures are valid and a denial if the total is lower than that. Michigan Values Life had 446 valid signatures in the sample size, according to the report.
Earlier this month, the group Coalition to Protect Access to Care challenged the petition and claimed there were at least 65 defective signatures in the 500-signature sample, including at least 21 duplicates.
Angela Vasquez-Giroux, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, said the number of invalid signatures based on duplicates alone could be higher than what the sample size indicates.
“The Bureau of Elections found the same severe deficiencies in the Right to Life petitions as our staff and volunteers did, and we hope the Board of Canvassers follows their recommendation and declines to certify,” she said.
Genevieve Marnon, Right to Life of Michigan’s legislative director, called the report “disappointing” but said Michigan Values Life plans to make their case to the Board of State Canvassers later this week.
“We are confident we turned in 340,047 valid signatures,” she said. “It’s very frustrating that it’s come down to three signatures.”
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