One of the nation’s strongest pro-life states is under attack.

Idaho currently protects children from abortion beginning at conception, with narrow exceptions to save the mother’s life and in certain cases of rape and incest reported in the first trimester. Under Idaho law, abortion is a felony punishable by a minimum of 2 years in prison and the suspension of the abortionist’s medical license. 

That could soon change. 

A pro-abortion group ironically called “Idahoans United for Women and Families” has gathered enough signatures to get a statutory initiative that would create a so-called “right” to abortion on the November ballot. If approved, the initiative would threaten decades of hard-fought protections for unborn babies. Virtually every pro-life law enacted by the Idaho Legislature could be challenged in court. 

It should be noted that Idaho’s ballot initiative process allows special-interest groups to bypass the state legislature and enact statutes directly through a statewide vote. Although this measure is not a constitutional amendment, as we’ve seen in Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri, it would still become state law if approved by a simple majority of voters. If that happens, Planned Parenthood and its abortion allies will move their murderous businesses back into Idaho. 

The initiative is deceptively worded, and many pro-lifers who are not familiar with the current law could be enticed to vote for it. For example, a description of the statute states: “A yes vote supports creating a right to reproductive freedom and privacy, declaring that the state can regulate abortion after the point of fetal viability…”

As we’ve seen with other ballot initiatives, this makes it appear that the initiative gives the state authority to regulate abortion, which may appeal to pro-life voters, rather than clearly stating that the statute creates a sweeping statutory right to abortion that does not currently exist. Additional language frames the statute as a vehicle that “secures a person’s right to make their own health care decisions without government interference.” This language is intentionally crafted to appeal to moderate, libertarian, and independent voters who are concerned about government overreach. This tactic was also used to override the legislative process and get abortion amendments passed in Ohio and Missouri.

“Reproductive Freedom” initiatives have been used to demolish commonsense protections, invite years of litigation, and make it far more difficult for legislatures to defend innocent human life.

Life Legal is already working with like-minded groups to educate the public about the drastic consequences of this measure. 

We are also urging pro-lifers in every state to pray daily that this initiative does not pass. In the coming weeks, we will launch a 90-Day Prayer Commitment to defend life in the states where abortion initiatives are on the ballot. 

Together, we can help ensure that protections for unborn children remain in place.

Thank you for standing with Life Legal as we continue the fight.