North Dakotan's Against Measure 3

While we are gearing up for a fun-filled primary election on June 5, across the border in North Dakota, they plan to vote on sincerely held religious beliefs.

I try to keep an eye on ballot measures in other states, because there’s always a chance we’ll see them end up in South Dakota. And you know how we love our ballot measures!

North Dakota will vote on June 12 on four different ballot initiatives including Measure 3 which aims to change the ND State Constitution. The North Dakota Family Alliance and the ND Catholic
Conference are supporting the measure that they claim will protect against discriminations against sincerely held religious beliefs.

If you think this sounds familiar, you’re right. Long before the Blunt Amendment in February 2012, which would have allowed employers the option of not covering contraceptives if they were against their religious beliefs, North Dakota was planning to expand that idea.

Opponents of Measure 3, a coalition of legal and medical professionals, religious leaders, and concerned citizens called North Dakotans Against Measure 3, are worried about the unintended consequences of passing a change like this. From their website,

The language in this law is too broad, poorly written, confusing and has so many loopholes that it can open the door for serious and even harmful unintended consequences for all North Dakotans. In the real world, we all know that some people take advantage. Measure 3 could cause real harm to some of our most vulnerable citizens.

It will be an interesting result to watch.

~Carmen, Planned Parenthood Advocate