Mississippi Set to Vote on "Personhood" Measure

What is a "personhood" measure?

It's a new, backdoor way to ban abortion care. It's called "personhood" because anti-choice extremists say that life begins at conception, even before doctors say a pregnancy occurs. "Personhood" measures would not only outlaw abortion--including in cases of rape or incest--but they could also ban many common forms of birth control.

Colorado voters twice defeated "personhood" ballot measures in their state by resounding margins. But the anti-choice groups behind these measures haven't given up. They've turned their sights to other states, and this November, Mississippians will vote on a "personhood" measure.

The man behind the Mississippi "personhood" measure is a far-right extremist named Les Riley. He's currently barnstorming the state on his incendiary "Conceived in Rape Tour." The tour aims to undermine the right to choose even for women who are survivors of sexual violence.

Mother Jones calls this initiative "the most radical anti-abortion measure in America." "Personhood" measures directly conflict with Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that recognized a woman's fundamental, constitutional right to choose abortion care.

And, of course, that's the idea. These anti-choice activists hope that "personhood" measures lead to a new Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade.

And that would send us right back to the days when politicians had free rein to make a woman's most personal medical decisions for her.