Hamilton County Commissioners support TN Amendment 1 on abortion

TEXT OF AMENDMENT 1

"Shall Article I, of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designated section:Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother."

After much discussion, Hamilton County Commissioners voted to pass a resolution expressing support of the passage of Constitutional Amendment No. 1.

Amendment No. 1 aims to return to the State of Tennessee the ability to regulate abortion. State residents will vote on the issue in a statewide ballot on Nov. 4.

Commissioners were making a purely symbolic vote, and their decision makes no impact on the actual passage of the amendment.

The decision was far from unanimous.

The vote passed 5 - 2 - with one pass and one abstention.

Commissioners Chester Bankston, Randy Fairbanks, Marty Haynes, Sabrena Smedley and Jim Fields voted to support the resolution.

Commissioners Greg Beck and Warren Mackey voted against it.

Commissioners Tim Boyd abstained from the vote, and Joe Graham passed.

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