Citizens to vote on state funding for abortions in Oregon

(OCTOBER 2, 2018) Every November, there is an election. In an election, each citizen casts a vote. They do this by completing a ballot. The ballot is the piece of paper with all of the available choices. A vote represents their choice. Sometimes citizens elect (choose) people for government offices, such as mayor of the city, governor of the state, or president of the country. Other times, citizens vote for or against (yes or no) on a new law, policy, or tax. That kind of question is called a ballot measure.

In 2018, one of the five state ballot measures in Oregon is about abortion. An abortion is a medical operation to end a pregnancy when the baby is still too small to live, usually during the first 28 weeks of the pregnancy. Oregon. If it is passed (approved), this ballot measure would stop Oregon from spending state money to help provide abortions to women with low incomes.

"Under Measure 106, the state constitution would allow funding for abortion only if a woman is in danger of death because of her physical condition or in cases where funding is required under federal law, which now includes rape and incest," according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. "Most of the country has already taken this step. The federal government bans Medicaid funding for abortion, except in cases of rape or incest or to save a mother’s life. About two-thirds of states have similar bans." (Rape is when a person forces another person to have sex against their will, usually through violence. Incest is sex between family members.)

Voters said no to similar ballot measures in 1978 and 1986.

Jeff Jimerson leads the ballot measure to stop funding abortions. He says, "When you offer something free to somebody, people will take something even when it's not the best option for them." He wants to reduce the number of abortions.

Grayson Dempsey is fighting against the ballot measure. She represents a "pro-choice" organization called NARAL. She says Jimerson's opinion is "really disrespectful to women and their ability to make decisions on when and if to become a parent." Women should decide for themselves, she says.

In the last year, 3,600 Oregon women had abortions covered by the Oregon Health Plan. The cost to the government was about $2 million. However, the government says that it will spend more money -- not less -- if the ballot measure passes. The ballot measure will mean there are fewer abortions and, therefore, more low-income women with children. That means the state will now need to help with health care, food, and other services for many years.

Some people argue that it's not a problem. The state will not help pay for abortions, but abortions will still be available. Women can pay to have abortions. Women with low incomes, however, cannot afford an abortion by themselves.

The election is Tuesday, November 6, 2018.