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Has Wisconsin allowed voters to decide on approving a new abortion law?

By Tom Kertscher
NO

The Legislature has proposed allowing voters to approve an abortion ban, but the governor plans to veto the bill.

A Dane County judge ruled that an 1849 Wisconsin law prohibits attacking a woman in an attempt to kill her fetus, but does not apply to consensual medical abortions.

The law had been considered an abortion ban. The ruling is under appeal.

On Jan. 19, Republican lawmakers introduced a bill that would put a referendum on the April 2 ballot. The referendum would ask voters to generally ban abortion after 14 weeks of pregnancy, down from the current 20 weeks.

To get to referendum, the Legislature must pass the bill and the governor would have to sign it.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has vowed to veto “any bill that makes reproductive health care any less accessible for Wisconsinites."

Townhall.com updated its related, misleading headline after Wisconsin Watch contacted the outlet.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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