1972 Michigan Proposal B


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.

Proposal B
Abortion Legalization to 20 Weeks Initiative
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 1,270,416 39.35%
No 1,958,265 60.65%
Total votes 3,228,681 100.00%
Source: Right to Life of Michigan[1]

Contents

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The 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

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The 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

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The 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

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Here 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

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  1. ^ "Abortion Legalization Proposal - Proposal B of 1972". Right to Life of Michigan. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  2. ^ "Michigan Proposal B, Abortion Legalization to 20 Weeks Initiative (1972)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  3. ^ "Michigan Abortion Referendum Committee Records: 1969-1972". University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  4. ^ "Abortion Law Change Is Opposed By Gribbs - Detroit Free Press". Newspapers.com. November 1, 1972. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Abortion Law Change Is Opposed By Gribbs - Detroit Free Press". Newspapers.com. November 1, 1972. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  7. ^ "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.
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