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| South Dakota rejects abortion ban | South Dakota rejects abortion ban |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Voters in South Dakota have rejected a near total ban on abortion in one of the highest profile state referendums taking place alongside the US polls. | Voters in South Dakota have rejected a near total ban on abortion in one of the highest profile state referendums taking place alongside the US polls. |
| Voters rejected the ban, signed into law in March but not yet in effect. | Voters rejected the ban, signed into law in March but not yet in effect. |
| In several states, voters rejected gay marriage by limiting marriage to unions between a man and a woman. | In several states, voters rejected gay marriage by limiting marriage to unions between a man and a woman. |
| There were, in total, 205 referendums in 37 states. The referendums, known as ballot initiatives, are proposed state laws that must be decided by voters. | There were, in total, 205 referendums in 37 states. The referendums, known as ballot initiatives, are proposed state laws that must be decided by voters. |
| Tobacco and smoking taxes, property rights and minimum wage levels were also big issues put to the vote. | Tobacco and smoking taxes, property rights and minimum wage levels were also big issues put to the vote. |
| Hopes for turnout | Hopes for turnout |
| Missouri approved a measure backing stem cell research, despite the opposition of George W Bush to much of this research. | Missouri approved a measure backing stem cell research, despite the opposition of George W Bush to much of this research. |
| Of the eight states where marriage amendments were on the ballot, six - Virginia, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Dakota and Colorado - were heading towards a rejection of gay marriage. | Of the eight states where marriage amendments were on the ballot, six - Virginia, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Dakota and Colorado - were heading towards a rejection of gay marriage. |
| Conservatives had been hoping the votes on same-sex marriage might increase turnout for the Republican Party. | Conservatives had been hoping the votes on same-sex marriage might increase turnout for the Republican Party. |
| Democrats looked for a boost from low-income voters turning out on behalf of measures to raise the state minimum wage in six states. | Democrats looked for a boost from low-income voters turning out on behalf of measures to raise the state minimum wage in six states. |
| But correspondents said no measure galvanised political activists across the country like the South Dakota abortion measure. | But correspondents said no measure galvanised political activists across the country like the South Dakota abortion measure. |
| The law would have allowed abortions only to save a pregnant woman's life - and was designed to draw a legal challenge amd ultimately overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 US Supreme Court case that legalized abortion. | |