Michigan Proposal B, the Abortion Legalization to 20 Weeks Initiative, was on the ballot in Michigan as an indirect initiated state statute on November 7, 1972. The ballot measure was defeated with 60.65% of the vote. However, the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn Michigan's abortion ban in the Roe v. Wade ruling one year later.
Abortion Legalization to 20 Weeks Initiative | |||||||||||||
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| Source: Right to Life of Michigan[1] | |||||||||||||
Contents
editThe ballot title for Proposal B was as follows:[2]
PROPOSAL TO ALLOW ABORTION UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. The proposed law would allow a licensed medical or osteopathic physician to perform an abortion at the request of the patient if, (1) the period of gestation has not exceeded 20 weeks, and (2) if the procedure is performed in a licensed hospital or other facility approved by the Department of Public Health. Should this proposed law be approved?
Support
editThe Michigan Abortion Referendum Committee led the campaign in support of the ballot measure. The Michigan Coordinating Committee for Abortion Law Reform (MCCARL) formed the committee to lead the petition drive and campaign.[3] The ballot initiative was also supported by Michigan Governor William Milliken (R).[4]
Opposition
editThe Voice of the Unborn Coalition led the campaign in opposition to the ballot measure. People Taking Action Against Abortion (PTAAA) and Grand Rapids Right to Life formed the coalition to lead the campaign.[5] Detroit mayor Roman Gribbs (D) also opposed the measure, stating that "We’ve lost sight of the consequences. We’re dealing with human meanings. We’re dealing with life."[6]
Results by county
editHere are the results of Proposal B by county. Red represents counties won by No. Blue represents counties won by Yes.[7]
| County | No | Yes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage | Votes | Percentage | Votes | |
| Alcona | 69.7% | 2,522 | 30.3% | 1,096 |
| Alger | 70.5% | 2,621 | 29.5% | 1,094 |
| Allegan | 72.6% | 18,560 | 27.4% | 6,995 |
| Alpena | 76% | 8,626 | 24% | 2,717 |
| Antrim | 63.3% | 3,805 | 36.7% | 2,210 |
| Arenac | 69.3% | 3,048 | 30.7% | 1,348 |
| Baraga | 77.9% | 2,619 | 22.1% | 741 |
| Barry | 61.3% | 9,530 | 38.7% | 6,008 |
| Bay | 75.6% | 33,042 | 24.4% | 10,656 |
| Benzie | 56.3% | 2,234 | 43.7% | 1,732 |
| Berrien | 58% | 32,109 | 42% | 23,236 |
| Branch | 60.6% | 7,818 | 39.4% | 5,065 |
| Calhoun | 55% | 28,225 | 45% | 23,126 |
| Cass | 51.8% | 7,247 | 48.2% | 6,752 |
| Charlevoix | 64.3% | 4,783 | 35.7% | 2,657 |
| Cheboygan | 72.7% | 5,223 | 27.3% | 1,964 |
| Chippewa | 68.3% | 7,696 | 31.7% | 3,579 |
| Clare | 65.4% | 4,330 | 34.6% | 2,286 |
| Clinton | 73% | 13,941 | 27% | 5,176 |
| Crawford | 63% | 1,856 | 37% | 1,087 |
| Delta | 75.8% | 11,169 | 24.2% | 3,573 |
| Dickinson | 76.5% | 8,422 | 23.5% | 2,584 |
| Eaton | 63.3% | 17,905 | 36.7% | 10,362 |
| Emmet | 61.3% | 4,839 | 38.7% | 3,050 |
| Genesee | 59% | 91,522 | 41% | 63,651 |
| Gladwin | 67.3% | 3,610 | 32.7% | 1,758 |
| Gogebic | 74.2% | 7,472 | 25.8% | 2,593 |
| Grand Traverse | 57.8% | 9,667 | 42.2% | 7,054 |
| Gratiot | 64.6% | 9,086 | 35.4% | 4,979 |
| Hillsdale | 61.7% | 8,005 | 38.3% | 4,972 |
| Houghton | 71% | 10,363 | 29% | 4,230 |
| Huron | 76.7% | 10,502 | 23.3% | 3,184 |
| Ingham | 51% | 59,228 | 49% | 56,830 |
| Ionia | 72% | 12,016 | 28% | 4,666 |
| Iosco | 64% | 5,576 | 36% | 3,133 |
| Iron | 73% | 5,230 | 27% | 1,944 |
| Isabella | 60.6% | 10,375 | 39.4% | 6,733 |
| Jackson | 61.1% | 31,741 | 38.9% | 20,178 |
| Kalamazoo | 52.9% | 43,314 | 47.1% | 38,608 |
| Kalkaska | 68.4% | 1,919 | 31.6% | 885 |
| Kent | 68.9% | 116,795 | 31.1% | 52,726 |
| Keweenaw | 75.3% | 864 | 24.7% | 284 |
| Lake | 66.2% | 1,985 | 33.8% | 1,012 |
| Lapeer | 65.6% | 11,277 | 34.4% | 5,918 |
| Leelanau | 66.6% | 3,702 | 33.3% | 1,855 |
| Lenawee | 58.5% | 16,331 | 41.5% | 11,608 |
| Livingston | 58.8% | 14,207 | 41.2% | 9,949 |
| Luce | 60.4% | 1,345 | 39.6% | 882 |
| Mackinac | 71.2% | 3,495 | 28.8% | 1,413 |
| Macomb | 64% | 140,741 | 36% | 79,217 |
| Manistee | ||||
| Marquette | 63.7% | 14,937 | 36.3% | 8,498 |
| Mason | 67% | 7,017 | 33% | 3,448 |
| Mecosta | 63.6% | 6,633 | 36.4% | 3,796 |
| Menominee | 76.6% | 7,922 | 23.4% | 2,422 |
| Midland | 57.1% | 14,867 | 42.9% | 11,152 |
| Missaukee | 79.9% | 2,917 | 20.1% | 735 |
| Monroe | 69.9% | 27,309 | 30.1% | 11,765 |
| Montcalm | 66.2% | 9,420 | 33.8% | 4,800 |
| Montmorency | 70.1% | 1,846 | 29.9% | 786 |
| Muskegon | 68.2% | 38,256 | 31.8% | 17,830 |
| Newaygo | 71.6% | 8,746 | 28.4% | 3,468 |
| Oakland | 48.7% | 175,148 | 51.3% | 184,248 |
| Oceana | 71.2% | 5,359 | 28.8% | 2,170 |
| Ogemaw | 68.5% | 3,708 | 31.5% | 1,705 |
| Ontonagon | 71.9% | 3,558 | 28.1% | 1,389 |
| Osceola | 72.9% | 4,375 | 27.1% | 1,629 |
| Oscoda | 69.3% | 1,475 | 30.7% | 654 |
| Otsego | 69% | 3,205 | 31% | 1,442 |
| Ottawa | 78.4% | 44,257 | 21.6% | 12,189 |
| Presque Isle | 78.9% | 4,780 | 21.1% | 1,278 |
| Roscommon | 63.6% | 3,898 | 36.4% | 2,234 |
| Saginaw | 66.4% | 47,637 | 33.6% | 24,125 |
| St. Clair | 67.8% | 15,393 | 32.2% | 7,304 |
| St. Joseph | 61.6% | 10,311 | 38.4% | 6,437 |
| Sanilac | 74.3% | 11,127 | 25.7% | 3,854 |
| Schoolcraft | 69.9% | 2,767 | 30.1% | 1,285 |
| Shiawassee | 72.4% | 17,372 | 27.6% | 6,621 |
| Tuscola | 70.8% | 11,960 | 29.2% | 4,934 |
| Van Buren | 62.4% | 12,190 | 37.6% | 7,344 |
| Washtenaw | 41.3% | 41,993 | 58.7% | 59,587 |
| Wayne | 59.7% | 513,972 | 40.3% | 346,566 |
| Wexford | 67% | 5,636 | 33% | 2,780 |
References
edit- ^ "Abortion Legalization Proposal - Proposal B of 1972". Right to Life of Michigan. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "Michigan Proposal B, Abortion Legalization to 20 Weeks Initiative (1972)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "Michigan Abortion Referendum Committee Records: 1969-1972". University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "Abortion Law Change Is Opposed By Gribbs - Detroit Free Press". Newspapers.com. November 1, 1972. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ Karrer, Robert N. (1996). "The Formation of Michigan's Anti-Abortion Movement 1967-1974". Michigan Historical Review. 22 (1): 67–107. doi:10.2307/20173555. JSTOR 20173555. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "Abortion Law Change Is Opposed By Gribbs - Detroit Free Press". Newspapers.com. November 1, 1972. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "Proposal B of 1972 - Vote to Legalize Abortion in Michigan - County by County Breakdown" (PDF). Right to Life of Michigan. November 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2022.