Mississippi Election: Did Initiative 26 Pass? (Results Link)

Mississippi's Initiative 26: 'Personhood Amendment' Fails in Nov 8 Election

If Initiative 26 ("the personhood amendment") passes on November 8, 2011, the Mississippi state constitution will be amended to define "personhood" as beginning at fertilization. 

There's a chance that Initiative 26 will pass. [Update: The personhood amendment did not pass.]

• Initiative 26: 'Personhood Amendment' Text
  
• Mississippi Election Results: Polls Close at 7pm Local Time
  

Videos

Last Minute Debate On 26

see larger video

sourced by NowPublic Staff

We're having trouble finding arguments that aren't based in religion, which is somewhat problematic for a secular state; especially considering how ambiguously-worded Initiative 26 is: even many pro-lifers aren't sold.

It's also worth pointing out how relatively bad Mississippi is at dealing with the current walking, talking people who live there:

• There is only one abortion clinic in the state of Mississippi, which has the highest teen-pregnancy rate in America. What happens if a pregnant teen miscarries?
  
• The Mississippi infant mortality rate is 10 per 1,000 (pdf); do these cases become murder/manslaughter cases?
• Mississippi also leads the US in reliance on food stamps.
• Mississippi is also the most obese state in America.
• Mississippi is also a death-penalty state, so its view on the sanctity of life isn't quite consistent.
  

Abortion is legal in the US as per federal law (Roe v Wade), so Mississippi would put itself in a bit of a pickle if it tries to define the termination of a newly-formed zygote as murder or manslaughter.

Even if Initiative 26 passes, it's hard to imagine it surviving the subsequent legal challenges: it would be DOA in the US Supreme Court.

Our humble suggestion: perhaps try to solve Mississippi's actual and pressing problems.

Oh, and Democrat Johnny Dupree is facing Republican Phil Bryant for the Governor's office.