Michigan abortion, early-voting measures off ballot for now. Court fight next.

Two proposals to amend the state constitution to protect abortion rights and allow for early voting are almost certainly headed to court, after a state election board on Wednesday failed to place the measures on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The Board of State Canvassers is tasked with certifying ballot measures, but split 2-2 along party lines, failing to move forward the Reproductive Freedom for All initiative as well as Promote the Vote, which would allow nine days of early voting, public funding of absentee ballot postage and continue state law allowing registered voters to cast ballots without ID if they sign an affidavit.

Both Republicans on the board voted against the measures during the eight-hour board meeting Wednesday, despite a recommendation from state staffers to place them for the ballot.

Republicans objected to formatting issues on the abortion ballot measure which made words run together, while they argued the voting measure failed to disclose that it would repeal several sections of the state constitution.

While the decision won’t be the last word in the contentious fight, conservatives cheered their momentary victory Wednesday.

“The Board of State Canvassers today did the right thing by refusing to insert into our constitution the gibberish proposed by advocates for this extreme amendment,” Christen Pollo of Citizens to Support MI Families and Children said in a statement…. (Excerpt from Bridge Michigan)