NEWS SIDEBAR: Voters face range of social issues on November ballots

c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Although the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in California is garnering the most attention, Arizona and Florida both have proposals to amend their constitutions to ban same-sex marriage. A similar amendment was defeated in Arizona in 2004. For the amendment to pass in Florida, 60 percent of voters […]

c. 2008 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) Although the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in California is garnering the most attention, Arizona and Florida both have proposals to amend their constitutions to ban same-sex marriage.

A similar amendment was defeated in Arizona in 2004. For the amendment to pass in Florida, 60 percent of voters must support it.


More than two dozen states have passed similar amendments defining marriage as between one man and one woman. State ballots across the country will include amendments and initiatives for a number of social issues:

ADOPTION

The Arkansas ballot will have an initiative to ban unmarried couples from adopting or providing foster care to minors. Originally proposed to prohibit same-sex couples from adopting, the ban will apply to all unmarried couples.

ABORTION

A Colorado amendment seeks to define a person as any fertilized egg, embryo or fetus. South Dakota will include an amendment to ban abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and the mother’s health. A California measure would require parental notification for minors to obtain abortions.

STEM CELL RESEARCH

A Michigan proposal would lift a 30-year-old ban on stem cell research that destroys embryos.

GAMBLING

In Maryland, voters will be asked to support adding slot machines in locations throughout the state. Voters in Colorado will consider extending the hours of operation for casinos, with a percentage of the revenue going to higher education. Arkansas voters will consider a state-run lottery to fund college scholarships.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Colorado and Nebraska will include initiatives to end race and gender preferences in government hiring and college admissions.

KRE/LF END GIPSON

Donate to Support Independent Journalism!

Donate Now!