Home Christian News Voters To Decide Control of Congress, State Proposals

Voters To Decide Control of Congress, State Proposals

The ERLC has warned the legislation would cripple the religious freedom of faith-based child welfare entities and pro-life health care workers; undermine civil rights protections for women and girls; and expand abortion rights by defining “sex” to include a pregnancy-related “medical condition.”

Democrats have been unable to gain commitments from all their Senate members to change the rule to eliminate the 60-vote requirement to cut off debate. The addition of two or more senators might enable them to make the change and thereby approve such proposals as the WHPA and the Equality Act in future congressional sessions.

In state initiatives, Arkansas voters will decide whether to add an amendment to their constitution designed to protect religious liberty. The proposal would prohibit the government from burdening religious freedom except when it has a compelling interest and is using “the least restrictive means” to advance that interest.

Sonny Tucker, executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, told Baptist Press in written comments, “It is my sincere hope that the voters of Arkansas value strong protection of religious freedom enough to pass Issue 3, the Arkansas Religious Freedom Amendment.

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“If passed, the amendment would elevate the language to the state constitution and help protect religious freedom for future generations from the whims and preferences of future elections or politics,” he said Monday. “Strong protection of religious freedom is a great prescription to ensure the health of our society.”

In other state ballot initiatives:

  • Abortion: Voters in Kentucky and Montana will vote on pro-life measures, while citizens of California, Michigan and Vermont will determine the fate of proposals that would add the right to abortion to their state constitutions. (See preview here.)
  • Gay and transgender rights: Nevada will choose whether to add a constitutional amendment that would include equal rights based on “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression.”
  • Marijuana legalization: Voters in five states – Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota – will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana.
  • Gambling: California will vote on two gambling proposals, one to legalize sports wagering at licensed racetracks and Indiana casinos and one to legalize online and mobile sports betting.
  • Slavery: Voters in Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont will determine whether to repeal language in their state constitutions that permits slavery or involuntary servitude as punishments for crimes.
  • Clergy: Tennessee will vote on whether to delete from its constitution an article that bars ministers of the Gospel or priests from serving in the state legislature.

This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.