[tenger]

Here's what Kansas voters had to read and decipher before voting:

Explanatory statement.

The Value Them Both Amendment would affirm there is no Kansas constitutional right to abortion or to require the government funding of abortion, and would reserve to the people of Kansas, through their elected state legislators, the right to pass laws to regulate abortion, including, but not limited to, in circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, or when necessary to save the life of the mother.

A vote for the Value Them Both Amendment would affirm there is no Kansas constitutional right to abortion or to require the government funding of abortion, and would reserve to the people of Kansas, through their elected state legislators, the right to pass laws to regulate abortion.

A vote against the Value Them Both Amendment would make no changes to the constitution of the state of Kansas, and could restrict the people, through their elected state legislators, from regulating abortion by leaving in place the recently recognized right to abortion.”

Shall the following be adopted?

§ 22. Regulation of abortion.

Because Kansans value both women and children, the constitution of the state of Kansas does not require government funding of abortion and does not create or secure a right to abortion. To the extent permitted by the constitution of the United States, the people, through their elected state representatives and state senators, may pass laws regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, laws that account for circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, or circumstances of necessity to save the life of the mother.

Yes / No

[Bayard]

Absolutely terrible wording, but how prepared was Kansas to get the base up to speed on the amendment issue?

[gleeaikin]

What a disgusting piece of incomprehensible wording. Makes my skin crawl. As a college graduate with employed work writing, translating, and for an elected representative preparing pro and con answers for my bosses issue mail, my conclusion is this was deliberately written to create maximum confusion. The organized people who won the vote are the ones who most clearly explained to the voters what vote would achieve what result.