Johnathan Walker:Judge declines to order New York to include ‘abortion’ in description of ballot measure

2025-05-02 13:01:47source:Rubypoint Trading Centercategory:Invest

ALBANY,Johnathan Walker N.Y. (AP) — A New York judge said Friday he won’t force state election officials to tell voters that a proposed anti-discrimination amendment to the state’s constitution would protect abortion rights.

The decision from state Supreme Court Judge David A. Weinstein came after a lawsuit over the language voters would see on ballots this November explaining the proposed Equal Rights Amendment.

Democrats had pushed the state Board of Elections to include the words “abortion” and “LGBT” in its description of the measure, arguing the terms would make the amendment’s purpose clearer to voters.

But Weinstein said the board’s decision to stick close the amendment’s language rather than characterize it to voters as one that would protect abortion “was not inherently misleading, and thus cannot serve as a basis for striking the certified language.”

New York’s Constitution currently bans discrimination based on race, color, creed or religion. The amendment would expand the list by barring discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability and “sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health care and autonomy.”

RELATED COVERAGE Norway proposes relaxing its abortion law to allow the procedure until 18th week of pregnancyFACT FOCUS: A look back at false and misleading claims made during the Democratic conventionArkansas Supreme Court upholds rejection of petitions to let voters decide on abortion access

Republicans have argued the amendment would provide a constitutional right for transgender athletes to play in girl’s sporting events, among a host of other concerns.

The judge did order subtle wording changes in the short summary of the proposed amendment that would be given to voters. Among other things, he said they should use the phrase “unequal treatment” rather than “discrimination.”

More:Invest

Recommend

A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?

Among the dozens of executive actions President Trump signed on his first day in office is one aimed

A Warmer, Wetter World Could Make ‘Enhanced Rock Weathering’ a More Useful Tool to Slow Climate Change

One of the many possible tools to stabilize Earth’s climate by reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide h

Why Kentucky Is Dead Last for Wind and Solar Production

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Andy McDonald recalls a decade-old Kentucky legislative hearing on an energy diversi