November 2008 Ballot Initiatives on Civil Liberties

South Dakota

In 2006, voters defeated a ballot initiative to ban abortion in all cases. The new, revised initiative, which would ban abortion with exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the woman's health, would impose a prison sentence of up to 10 years on any doctor who violates the ban. If it passes, opponents will immediately challenge it, where it will almost certainly be struck down immediately by a federal court.

Washington

Washington Initiative 1000 (I-1000) would legalize assisted suicide for the terminally ill.

Wyoming

Amendment B would require proponents of ballot initiatives to gain signatures from a wider geographical range of voters, essentially making it more difficult to get referendums on the ballot.