Parental Notification Supporters Gather Signatures for November Ballot Measure

Supporters of Proposition 73, a failed ballot measure that would have required doctors to notify parents or guardians before performing an abortion on a minor, are circulating a petition to qualify a similar initiative for the November ballot, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports.

The measure, like Proposition 73, would require unmarried girls younger than age 18 to inform a parent or legal guardian of their intention to have an abortion 48 hours before undergoing the procedure.

Proposition 73 was rejected by voters by 53% to 47% during the November 2005 special election.

However, Albin Rhomberg, a spokesperson for the Parents' Right to Know and Child Protection Initiative, said the election was not representative of California voters because unions and Democrats mobilized supporters to reject measures promoted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). All eight measures on the November 2005 ballot failed.

The group has until July 3 to collect the nearly 600,000 signatures required to place the measure on the ballot (Williams, AP/San Jose Mercury News, 2/7).