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1992 Maryland Question 6

{{Short description|Referendum on abortion}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox referendum

| country = Maryland

| date = November 3, 1992

| name = Referendum Question 6

| title = Abortion Law Revision

| yes = 1114377

| no = 690542

| total = 1804919

| map = 1992 Maryland Question 6 results by county.svg

| mapdivision = county

| mapcaption = {{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Yes

{{legend|#47729E|70–80% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#7D9CBB|60–70% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#B6C8D9|50–60% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{col-2}}

No

{{legend|#BCBC83|60–70% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#DEDEBD|50–60% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{col-end}}

| notes = Source: Maryland State Board of Elections{{cite web |title=1992 Presidential Election Official Results for Statewide Questions |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/1992/results_1992/ballot_questions.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=November 17, 2023 |date=February 16, 2001}}

}}

{{ElectionsMD}}

Question 6 was a voter referendum to allow voters to approve or reject a law passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 1991 to codify the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade. The referendum was approved by 61.7% of voters on November 3, 1992.

Ballot measure

A draft of the referendum language had been sent to both pro-choice and pro-life groups by Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. to prevent controversy over the wording of the question. He asked the groups to comment on the draft by June 19, 1992,{{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=Both sides asked about wording of abortion question |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170934128/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 6, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}} and, after receiving feedback, rewrote the question to use "less cryptic" language.{{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=Second version has more words, is 'less cryptic' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170929933/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 27, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}} The ballot language was revised for a third and final time before being submitted to the Maryland Secretary of State to appear on the general election ballot.{{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=Anti-abortion camp doesn't like wording of ballot question |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170777919/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 7, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}}

After the language was approved, the Vote kNOw Coalition filed a lawsuit asking for the ballot language to be rewritten.{{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=Abortion foes file lawsuit over ballot language |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170763103/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 30, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}} Judge Bruce C. Williams rejected the language and ordered the attorney general to rewrite the ballot wording{{cite news |last1=Stuckey |first1=Tom |title=Abortion language rejected |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/281597090/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Daily Times |date=August 13, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}} in a ruling that was later struck down by the Maryland Court of Appeals.{{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=Foes of abortion lose court battle on ballot wording |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170901230/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 20, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}}

The ballot measure read as follows:

{{blockquote|Question 6
Abortion Law Revision}}

{{blockquote|Revises Maryland's abortion law to prohibit State interference with woman's abortion decision before fetus is viable, or, under certain conditions, at any time and to provide certain exceptions to the requirement that a physician notify an unmarried minor's parent or guardian prior to minor's abortion; repeals pre-abortion information requirements about abortion alternatives; repeals some, and clarifies other, provisions related to abortion referral; requires that abortions be performed by licensed physicians; provides good-faith immunity under certain conditions to physicians performing abortions; authorizes State to adopt abortion regulations; repeals certain penalty and disciplinary provisions related to the performance of abortions.}}

The choices read as follows:

{{blockquote|For the Referred Law
Against the Referred Law}}

History

{{main article|Abortion in Maryland}}

In 1968, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill that would require abortions in the state to be performed in a hospital and approved by a hospital review committee.{{cite news |title=Assembly OK's Viet Measure Amid Uproar, Ends Session |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/370947477/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Evening Sun |date=March 27, 1968 |via=Newspapers.com}} This legislation would later be overturned by the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, which prevented the government from placing restrictions on abortions before fetal viability.

Legislative debate on abortion had intensified following the Supreme Court's decision in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, which imposed restrictions on state funding for abortions, with pro-choice lawmakers introducing a bill to codify the Roe decision amid fears that the Supreme Court would overturn its previous decision, thereby reinstating Maryland's restrictive 1968 law.{{cite news |title=Abortion advocates move to pre-empt high court |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376719115/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 8, 1990 |via=Newspapers.com}} Senate President Thomas V. Miller Jr., who self-identified as a pro-life, pledged to remain neutral on the debate but said that he personally favored laws that restricted abortion, adding that if the procedure was necessary, "you've got Washington, D.C., 35 miles down the road". House Speaker R. Clayton Mitchell Jr. also declined to bring any abortion bills up for a vote, saying that he would wait until the Senate takes action on the issue before he'd bring it up.

By 1990, abortion advocates had secured a majority in the Maryland Senate and introduced legislation that would codify the Roe decision, but it was unclear if the legislation had the votes to defeat a filibuster.{{cite news |last1=Shen |first1=Fern |title=Miller takes center stage on abortion |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1990/02/25/miller-takes-center-stage-on-abortion/a2ece73a-441f-4cf8-bdb1-2113aba18c5c/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 25, 1990}} Pro-choice lawmakers were initially unable to reach the 32 votes required to break the Republican-led filibuster, with the Senate voting 28–18 to continue debate on the bill.{{cite news |title=Filibuster blocks bill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/91925020/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Star Democrat |date=March 16, 1990 |via=Newspapers.com}} Legislators continued to filibuster the bill for eight days before coming to an agreement to couple the abortion rights legislation with another bill that would prevent the bill from going into effect until voters approved of it in a statewide referendum.{{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |last2=Frece |first2=John W. |title=Senate OKs 2 abortion bills; filibuster ends |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376890826/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 23, 1990 |via=Newspapers.com}} However, both bills were killed by state delegate William A. Clark in the House Environmental Matters Committee, who argued in voting against the two bills that action on the House floor would be "chaotic" and force legislators "to go on record on the vote".{{cite news |last1=Birch |first1=Doug |last2=Bowie |first2=Liz |title=House panel, by 1 vote, kills both abortion bills |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376657009/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 24, 1990 |via=Newspapers.com}} In that year's state Senate elections, pro-abortion group Choice PAC primaried four incumbent Democratic state senators who filibustered the abortion rights bill, giving advocates the votes they needed to pass the bill during next year's legislative session.{{cite news |last1=Fletcher |first1=Michael A. |title=Md. Senate's anti-abortion bloc apparently broken |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1990-09-12-1990255213-story.html |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 12, 1990}}

At the start of the 1991 legislative session, Miller promised that the abortion bill would be "the first major issue the Senate takes up" that year.{{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=Assembly faces year of retrenchment, heavy issues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376698267/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 6, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}} The new bill included a parental notification clause that Miller believed the public would be more accepting of it was to head to a referendum.{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=William |title=Assembly leaders seek to head off abortion filibuster |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/367652439/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Evening Sun |date=January 14, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}} Anti-abortion state senators conceded that they did not have the votes to hold a filibuster on the bill, but said they would propose amendments to the bill that would outlaw abortions for sex-select reasons, ban abortion services advertising, and requiring parental consent for abortions performed on underage girls.{{cite news |last1=Roll |first1=John |title=Abortion debate begins anew in Senate today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/869356519/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=Carroll County Times |date=February 8, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}} All amendments to the bill were rejected after five and a half hours of debate,{{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |last2=Frece |first2=John W. |title=Abortion bill clears hurdles in Md. Senate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376802869/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 9, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}} and the bill eventually passed and was signed into law by Governor William Donald Schaefer.{{cite news |title=Abortion bill signed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/91904894/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Star Democrat |date=February 19, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}} Afterwards, anti-abortion activists, led by former Lieutenant Governor Samuel Bogley and his Right to kNOw Coalition,{{cite news |title=Group plans to launch abortion petition drive |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/869483960/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=Carroll County Times |date=March 28, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Amy L. |title=Signatures sought for referendum |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-06-05-9113005771-story.html |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 5, 1991}} said they planned to collect enough signatures to petition the law in the 1992 general election.{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=William |title=Abortion foes taking steps to fight back |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/91904894/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Evening Sun |date=February 19, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}} In late June, the coalition submitted 143,622 voter signatures—more than four times the 33,373 valid signatured required—to petition the law, which were certified by the Maryland State Board of Elections in July.{{cite news |title=Abortion law faces ballot test |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/367431279/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Evening Sun |date=July 23, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Opponents, supports of abortion law plan for referendum campaign |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/869422356/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=Carroll County Times |date=June 28, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Campaign

Pro-choice groups led raised $1.6 million during the campaign to support Question 6, with most contributions being transferred to the Maryland for Choice committee, while abortion opponents raised $1.46 million, almost all of which was through the Vote kNOw Coalition.{{cite news |last1=Stuckey |first1=Tom |title=$3 million raised for abortion law campaign |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/281305601/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Daily Times |date=October 27, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}} The pro-life campaign involved criticizing the 1991 abortion bill as "extremist", while abortion advocates called it a "moderate compromise". Anti-Question 6 ballots were also distributed in Roman Catholic churches and other congregations, and television commercials opposing Question 6, including one featuring neurosurgeon Ben Carson,{{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=Abortion issue heads to airwaves |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170966110/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 22, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Abortion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170786983/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 30, 1992 |quote=Dr. Ben Carson, Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon: "As a physician who does not believe in abortion, when faced with a patient who has severe medical problems, I would refer someone for an abortion." |via=Newspapers.com}} were ran on WMAR-TV and WBAL-TV. Carson later condemned the advertisement and asked for it to be taken down, saying that he had not known that he was making a political advertisement.{{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=Hopkins doctor disavows ad against abortion law |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/171284445/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 2, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Turnout in the 1992 general elections were boosted by Question 6 and tax issues,{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=C. Fraser |title=Abortion question, tax issues expected to turn out the vote |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170922014/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 3, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}} which the Maryland Republican Party believed would hurt President George H. W. Bush, who was pro-life.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=C. Fraser |title=Abortion strains unity of state GOP |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170900864/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 18, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}}

=Endorsements=

{{Endorsements box|title=Yes|list=

U.S. Senators

  • Bill Bradley, U.S. Senator from New Jersey ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=In Maryland, referendum looms large |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170949089/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 30, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}}

U.S. Representatives

  • Kweisi Mfume, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|MD|7}} ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})
  • Parren Mitchell, former U.S. Representative from {{ushr|MD|7}} ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |title=Abortion foe disparages back-alley death 'myth' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170783902/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 15, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Statewide officials

  • Hillary Clinton, First Lady of Arkansas and wife of presidential nominee Bill Clinton ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Sarris |first1=Marina |title=Hillary Clinton pushes her husband's economic plan at rally in Annapolis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170939294/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 28, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • Nelson J. Sabatini, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Hygiene ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=State health secretary urges OK of abortion law |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170947762/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 30, 1992}}
  • Melvin Steinberg, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=Abortion-rights rally in city kicks off next campaign |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170775050/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 1, 1992}}

State delegates

  • Delores G. Kelley, state delegate from the 42nd district ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})
  • Lawrence A. LaMotte, state delegate from district 5B ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |title=Anti-abortion activists pressing for referendum |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376313621/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 5, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • Mary Louise Preis, state delegate from the 34th district ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Freeman |first1=Freda |title=Question 6 roils waters on abortion issue |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/868804997/?terms=%22abortion%22+referendum&match=1 |access-date=November 18, 2023 |work=The Aegis |date=September 30, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}}
  • Samuel I. Rosenberg, state delegate from the 42nd district ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=Both sides in Md. cheered by Pa. abortion decision |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376327900/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 23, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Local officials

  • Kurt Schmoke, mayor of Baltimore ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |last1=Banisky |first1=Sandy |title=Schmoke to campaign for abortion rights bill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/367432755/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Evening Sun |date=January 27, 1992 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Party officials

Individuals

Organizations

Newspapers

}}

{{Endorsements box|title=No|list=

U.S. Executive Branch officials

Statewide elected officials

  • Samuel Bogley, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}})

State senators

  • Larry E. Haines, state senator from the 5th district ({{font color||#FFE6E6|Republican}}){{cite news |last1=Hare |first1=Mary Gail |title=Center helps pregnant women |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376848524/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 27, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}}

State delegates

  • Marsha G. Perry, state delegate from the 33rd district ({{font color||#CEE0F2|Democrat}}){{cite news |title=A new abortion law |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/281685495/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Daily Times |date=February 20, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Individuals

Organizations

  • Maryland Catholic Conference{{cite news |title=Abortion Issue Takes New Course in New Year |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376822173/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 24, 1991 |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

Opinion polls

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"
valign=bottom

! Poll source

! Date(s)
administered

! Sample
size{{efn|name=key|Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear}}

! Margin
of error

! style="width:100px;"| For

! style="width:100px;"| Against

! Undecided

style="text-align:left;"|George Washington University[https://www.newspapers.com/image/91982926/ George Washington University]

|October 20–24, 1992

|403 (RV)

|± 4.0%

|style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|70%

|20%

|10%{{efn|"Had not heard of the referendum" with 2%}}

style="text-align:left;"|Mason-Dixon Research[https://www.newspapers.com/image/869426908/ Mason-Dixon Research]

|October 1992

|809 (RV)

|± 3.5%

|style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|52%

|36%

|12%

style="text-align:left;"|Mason-Dixon Research[https://www.newspapers.com/image/869356881/ Mason-Dixon Research]

|August 28–30, 1992

|802 (RV)

|± 3.5%

|style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|54%

|29%

|17%

style="text-align:left;"|Mason-Dixon Research[https://www.newspapers.com/image/869326368/ Mason-Dixon Research]

|June 3–5, 1992

|815 (LV)

|± 3.5%

|style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|60%

|32%

|8%

style="text-align:left;"|KPC Research[https://www.newspapers.com/image/375921765/ KPC Research]

|February 10–15, 1992

|1,210 (RV)

|± 2.8%

|style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|57%

|31%

|12%

{{notelist}}

Results

{{Referendum

|title=1992 Maryland Question 6

|yes= 1,114,377 |yes%=61.74

|no=690,542 |no%=38.26

| total = 1,804,919

|turnoutpct=|}}

Source: Maryland State Board of Elections

=County breakdown=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
rowspan="2"| By county

! colspan="2"| For

! colspan="2"| Against

! rowspan="2" colspan="2"| Total votes

class="sorttop"

! Votes

! %

! Votes

! %

Allegany

| 9,478

| 38.60%

| 15,079

| 61.40%

| 24,557

| 100.00%

Anne Arundel

| 108,394

| 60.40%

| 71,077

| 39.60%

| 179,471

| 100.00%

Baltimore

| 180,818

| 61.38%

| 113,755

| 38.62%

| 294,573

| 100.00%

Baltimore City

| 132,697

| 66.37%

| 67,237

| 38.62%

| 199,934

| 100.00%

Calvert

| 10,944

| 56.62%

| 8,385

| 43.38%

| 19,329

| 100.00%

Caroline

| 3,482

| 49.52%

| 3,550

| 50.48%

| 7,032

| 100.00%

Carroll

| 26,362

| 51.00%

| 25,328

| 49.00%

| 51,690

| 100.00%

Cecil

| 11,015

| 48.73%

| 11,590

| 51.27%

| 22,605

| 100.00%

Charles

| 14,994

| 50.32%

| 14,804

| 49.68%

| 29,798

| 100.00%

Dorchester

| 4,789

| 54.26%

| 4,037

| 45.74%

| 8,826

| 100.00%

Frederick

| 32,721

| 54.26%

| 29,042

| 47.02%

| 61,763

| 100.00%

Garrett

| 2,683

| 30.13%

| 6,223

| 69.87%

| 8,906

| 100.00%

Harford

| 41,125

| 53.07%

| 36,360

| 46.93%

| 77,485

| 100.00%

Howard

| 63,141

| 64.80%

| 34,305

| 35.20%

| 97,446

| 100.00%

Kent

| 4,026

| 65.01%

| 2,167

| 34.99%

| 6,193

| 100.00%

Montgomery

| 246,361

| 70.12%

| 104,982

| 29.88%

| 351,343

| 100.00%

Prince George's

| 153,741

| 66.25%

| 78,328

| 33.75%

| 232,069

| 100.00%

Queen Anne's

| 7,542

| 60.38%

| 4,948

| 39.62%

| 12,490

| 100.00%

St. Mary's

| 9,852

| 46.87%

| 11,166

| 53.13%

| 21,018

| 100.00%

Somerset

| 2,350

| 41.89%

| 3,260

| 58.11%

| 5,610

| 100.00%

Talbot

| 7,643

| 63.77%

| 4,342

| 36.23%

| 11,985

| 100.00%

Washington

| 19,187

| 47.19%

| 21,473

| 52.81%

| 40,660

| 100.00%

Wicomico

| 12,975

| 52.24%

| 11,861

| 47.76%

| 24,836

| 100.00%

Worcester

| 8,057

| 52.66%

| 7,243

| 47.34%

| 15,300

| 100.00%

class="sortbottom"

| style="background-color:#E6E6E6;"| Total

| 1,114,377

| 61.74%

| 690,542

| 38.26%

|1,804,919

|100.00%

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{1992 United States elections}}

Category:November 1992 in the United States

Category:1992 in Maryland

Category:1992 Maryland elections

Maryland Question 6, 11 1992

Category:Abortion in the United States

Category:Abortion referendums

1992

Category:United States state abortion legislation

Category:Women in Maryland

Category:1991 in Maryland