Battle over abortion rights in South Dakota constitution intensifies

Anti-abortion activists sue over ballot measure, leading group behind measure to ask federal judge to step in

Anti-abortion activists in South Dakota have sued over a ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, leading the group behind the measure to ask a federal judge to step in and block the activists' effort.

Last week, South Dakota's Life Defense Fund filed a lawsuit accusing Dakotans for Health of fraud, turning in invalid signatures and failing to abide by the state rules that govern signature-gathering for ballot measures. Life Defense Fund has asked a South Dakota circuit court to take the abortion-rights measure off the November ballot.