Fate of Tennessee abortion measure Amendment 1 now up to appeals court

CINCINNATI — A federal appeals court in Cincinnati on Wednesday heard competing arguments on the validity of votes for the 2014 Tennessee abortion measure Amendment 1.

Amendment 1, passed by 53 percent of voters in November 2014, added language to the state constitution that says, in part: "Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion."

The unusual legal challenge that followed, however, concerns the state's long-standing method of counting votes on ballot measures, not abortion policy.

"Tennessee did exactly what it had done in prior elections, exactly what it told voters it was going to do and exactly what the constitution says," said Sarah Campbell, special assistant to the Attorney General told the panel.

Read more: http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2017/08/02/fate-tennessee-abortion-measure-amendment-1-now-up-appeals-court/526383001/