ALBUQUERQUE, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Officials in Albuquerque have agreed to allow voters to decide on a proposed ordinance that would limit abortion to the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The city council voted 5-4 to include the proposition in a Nov. 19 special election despite questions about the proposed law's constitutionality, the Albuquerque Journal reported Monday.
Should the ordinance be approved, abortions would be permitted in the New Mexico city only within the first 20 weeks of a woman's pregnancy. Provisions are included for abortions in which the woman's life is in danger.
The proposal was brought to the council after supporters gathered the required number of signatures on a petition. In acting on the proposal, council president Dan Lewis said the city was merely following its own legal procedures and had no discretion in whether to put the proposed ordinance on the ballot.
Councilwoman Roxanne Meyers questioned the validity of the proposal.
She said it would be "irresponsible of us to move forward," because "every court that's reviewed this type of law has decided it's unconstitutional."
