Elizabeth Daigneau is GOVERNING's managing editor.
E-mail: edaigneau@governing.comTwitter: @governing
What Else Would They Do? Stick to the Facts?
In the debate over a ballot measure requiring parental notification for minors to get abortions, a California judge stated the obvious: "The courts have recognized that in ballot arguments, proponents are allowed to engage in hyperbole."
The context, however, makes that statement interesting. The judge ruled that hyperbole is acceptable even in the official ballot guides that are mailed to voters. From the Sacramento Bee :
To proponents of Proposition 4, Sarah's story is an emotionally powerful argument for requiring doctors to notify a parent or guardian before performing an abortion on a girl younger than 18.
Their ballot argument for the November parental notification initiative says, "Sarah was only 15 when she had a secret abortion." It tells of her death from a "deadly infection," asserting: "Had someone in her family known about the abortion, Sarah's life could have been saved."
On Friday, a Sacramento judge ruled that Sarah's story may remain on official ballot guides to be mailed to 13 million California voters - even though there is no "Sarah."
Twitter: @governing
GOVERNING Politics is the place for news and analysis on campaigns and elections. If there's a ballot measure in California, a legislative election in Alabama, a mayoral election in Anchorage or a governor's race in Rhode Island, GOVERNING Politics probably is writing about it. We love everything about state and local politics, from polls and campaign ads to policy debates and demographic trends.
Latest From Politics
- Eric Garcetti Faces Major Challenges as Next Mayor of Los Angeles
- How Weak is the Republican Party in the Most Democratic States?
- Looking Back at Howard Dean's 50-State Strategy
- Are States Deepening the Nation's Red-Blue Divide?
- How Successful Are Lieutenant Governors Seeking the Governorship?
Categories
- Ballot Measures
- Economic & Fiscal Issues
- Election Results
- Governors
- Legislatures
- Local Offices
- Mayors
- Media and Advertising
- National Politics
- Parties & Interest Groups
- Political Map
- Polls
- Redistricting & Reapportionment
- Social Issues
- State Offices
- Voting Process & Voting Rules
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Flickr
RSS
© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved. |