Judge Rewrites Missouri Abortion Petition Summary, Striking Down Unfair Statements

A judge in Missouri has rejected the ballot titles written by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for six initiative petitions seeking to protect the right to abortion in the state's constitution. The judge ruled that the summaries were "argumentative" and biased, and failed to mention the initiatives' protections for contraceptives and reproductive health needs. The judge also upheld the fiscal note summary written by state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, dismissing claims that the initiatives would impose significant costs. The decision on which initiatives to circulate has been delayed due to ongoing litigation, and backers must secure over 170,000 signatures from registered voters by early May to make the 2024 ballot.