The National Right to Life Committee, Colorado’s Catholic bishops and some other anti-abortion groups declined to endorse the proposal, fearing it would run aground in legal challenges and even lead to judicial reaffirmation of abortion rights. Abortion-rights activists contended it would potentially have led to banning certain types of birth control.
South Dakota voters, two years after rejecting a nearly total ban on abortion, rejected another sweeping but less restrictive ballot measure to outlaw abortions except in cases of rape, incest and pregnancies that threaten a woman's health.
Some voters said they wanted those exceptions when they rejected the tougher 2006 measure by 56 percent to 44 percent.
Opponents said the new measure would have jeopardized the patient-doctor relationship because physicians could be criminally charged for exceeding its bounds. They also argued that its exceptions were too narrowly defined and that it would force some women to carry an unhealthy fetus."; StateInitiatives2008[i++] = new Array("","Affirmative action","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); StateInitiatives2008[i-1].body = "Nebraska approved a ban on the state and local governments from giving preferential treatment to people on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity or national origin.
Colorado was also voting on a similar ballot, but the outcome had yet to be decided.
California, Michigan and Washington state previously approved similar measures. "; StateInitiatives2008[i++] = new Array("","Assisted suicide","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); StateInitiatives2008[i-1].body = "Washington state voters joined Oregon as the only states offering terminally ill people the option of physician-assisted suicide. The initiative will allow adults who are deemed competent, and diagnosed to have six months or less to live, to request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician. "; StateInitiatives2008[i++] = new Array("","Immigration","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); StateInitiatives2008[i-1].body = "Arizona votes on whether to make business-friendly changes to the state's employer sanctions law, which prohibits businesses from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
Oregon voters rejected a proposal to limit teaching of students in languages other than English to no more than two years.
Click here for an earlier report on the controversy.";
StateInitiatives2008[i++] = new Array("","Marijuana","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
StateInitiatives2008[i-1].body = "Massachusetts voters decriminalized possession of an ounce or less of marijuana.
Michigan voters allowed registered patients with debilitating medical conditions to grow and use marijuana.
";
StateInitiatives2008[i++] = new Array("","Prostitution","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
StateInitiatives2008[i-1].body = "San Francisco voters rejected a proposition to decriminalize prostitution.
Proponents said it would have freed up millions of dollars spent annually to arrest prostitutes. Opponents — including the mayor and police department — said it would have emboldened pimps and hampered the fight against sex trafficking.
Click here for an earlier report on the controversy.";
StateInitiatives2008[i++] = new Array("","Same-sex bans","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
StateInitiatives2008[i-1].body = "Same-sex marriage bans were a high-profile issue in 2004 (11 states voted) and in 2006 (8 states).
This time, Arizona, California and Florida voted and all three approved amendments to limit marriage to a man and a woman, joining 27 other states that previously approved such measures.
None were in California’s situation — with same-sex marriage legal since a state Supreme Court decision in May and thousands of gay and lesbian couples already wed.
Click here for an earlier report on how California schools play into the controversy.
In addition, Arkansas voters banned unmarried couples from adopting or being foster parents.";
StateInitiatives2008[i++] = new Array("","Stem cells","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
StateInitiatives2008[i-1].body = "Michigan voters approved a change to the state constitution allowing people to donate embryos left over from fertility treatments for scientific research.
Opponents contended the proposal would keep Michigan lawmakers from regulating stem cell research, therapies or cures.
"; // END editorial data