Abortion is on the Michigan ballot in November, and both sides are gearing up for a political fight.

Michigan Proposal 3, also called the Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative, is an amendment that will change the state constitution. 

The amendment claims to “establish [a] new individual right to reproductive freedom” and would allow the state to regulate abortion only after “fetal viability.”

If passed, the proposal could reverse the state’s current 1931 abortion law banning all abortion, even in cases of rape and incest. A judge ruled against that law on Sept. 7. 

Hillsdale Mayor Adam Stockford said he doubts the proposal will have any impact on the Hillsdale community itself.

“Abortion had been legal via Supreme Court decision for 50 years, and there were no abortion services in Hillsdale,” Stockford said. “It is now illegal in Michigan per state law with the overturning of Roe, and there are no abortion services in Hillsdale, and if it’s codified into law per ballot proposal, there will still be no abortion services in Hillsdale. That’s just not the culture of our town.”

A statement from the Hillsdale County Democratic Party said it condemns bans or restrictions on women’s reproductive rights.

The county Democrats opposed an ordinance proposed in Hillsdale August, 2021, which sought to outlaw abortions or abortion clinics within city limits.

“Last year’s horrific attempt to ban abortions in the city of Hillsdale along with the overturning of Roe v. Wade has made evident that there must be changes to the state constitution to protect reproductive freedom,” the statement said.

Dr. Bud Vear, President of Right to Life of Hillsdale expressed concern with the extent of the proposal.

“Proposal 3 is the most radical abortion legislation we have ever faced in Michigan,” Vear said. “If it passes, it would essentially wipe out all the restrictions to abortion in Michigan, including parental consent for minors, informed consent, and health restrictions on where abortions are performed.”

If passed, the proposal will also allow anyone to perform abortions, something which greatly concerns Bryce Asberg, executive director of Helping Hands, a crisis pregnancy center located in Hillsdale that provides local women and children with essential services.

“Helping Hands opposes Proposal 3; it is too extreme. Proposal 3 will make Michigan the abortion capital of the Midwest and lead to many more women and children being hurt by the shoddy practices and substandard care of the abortion industry,” Asberg said.

Vear added to this concern.

“It would allow abortions throughout pregnancy and would not allow anyone performing an abortion to be prosecuted, even if a baby lives through an abortion and is allowed to die,” Vear said. “Passage of Proposal 3 would be a death sentence for many future unborn babies in Michigan.  It must be defeated.”

More than 700,000 people submitted signatures in favor of the proposal, but its place on the ballot was eventually decided by the Michigan Supreme Court on Sept. 8 after the Board of State Canvassers had a tied vote on whether or not it should appear on the ballot. 

The battle over abortion access in Michigan has been a heated one, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Planned Parenthood filing suits to strike down the 1931 law in April of this year, more than two months before the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling overturned Roe v. Wade.

Stockford said while he thinks the proposal will have little direct impact on Hillsdale, it could lead to a larger overall voter turnout on Nov. 8.

“I don’t think it will have any effect on Hillsdale, except turning out people on both sides of the aisle to vote,” Stockford said.