The American Civil Liberties Union wants Missouri voters to repeal a new state abortion law in 2020, The Kansas City Star is reporting.
The Missouri ACLU filed notice on Tuesday it will pursue a referendum on the law. Gov. Mike Parson had signed the abortion bill into law on Friday. It would criminalize abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy, except in the case of medical emergencies, the newspaper reported.
Doctors who violate the eight-week cutoff could end up facing five to 15 years in prison. Women who terminate their pregnancies cannot be prosecuted.
The ACLU must collect 100,000 signatures by Aug. 18 to place the law on the ballot, according to the newspaper. If the ACLU is successful in obtaining the signatures, the law will not take effect until voters have their say in 2020.
“There’s a constitutional right to an abortion,” Sara Baker, the ACLU’s Missouri legislative policy director, said. “Missouri voters are aware of this and we hope they will affirm this and repeal this law.”
She added: “Abortion is a part of healthcare and denying access to healthcare is dangerous for all Missourians.”
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