The attorney general of Arkansas rejected a “misleading” 2024 election ballot proposal that could practically eliminate pro-life protections.

Attorney General Tim Griffin asked activist Steve Nichols to “redesign” his proposed constitutional amendment because of several problems.

Abortion is currently illegal in Arkansas except for genuine medical emergencies.

“The policy of Arkansas is to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth, to the extent permitted by the Federal Constitution,” the state constitution says, following a 1988 amendment. The pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute considers Arkansas a “most restrictive” state.

The “Arkansas Reproductive Healthcare Amendment” lacks “clarity” and as a result, Griffin said he could not “say that your ballot title is not misleading.”

The activist used several phrases that could be interpreted in different ways. For example, the amendment leads by saying abortion cannot be restricted before 18 weeks, but then uses a modifier that could be interpreted to provide for abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.

The provision could be interpreted to prevent any government restrictions for any abortion, which would effectively remove all limits on the killing of preborn babies.

“Life” and “health” of the mother are two broad categories that can be interpreted to include a vague possibility of mental health problems after birth, as noted by the attorney general.

“Is the term intended to cover physical health only, or also mental health?” Griffin asked. He also asked if “physical health” only meant emergency situations or the potential for complications down the road.

“Your proposed popular name is tinged with partisan coloring and misleading because your proposal is solely related to abortion, not ‘reproductive healthcare’ generally,” Griffin also wrote.

And he is correct, since “reproductive healthcare” is misleading.

Abortions do not help people reproduce, so they should not be included under “reproductive healthcare.” Actual “reproductive healthcare” would include fertility awareness and diagnosing underlying problems that make it difficult for someone to conceive, such as a blocked ovary.

By the plain language of its name, “reproductive healthcare” would be services and medication that are ordered toward helping a woman conceive and have a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Abortion is the opposite; it is directly ordered toward ending a pregnancy and human life.

Abortion is not healthcare. Healthcare is ordered toward treating a symptom and making someone healthy again, but a baby is not a disease that can be “cured” by abortion.