Pro-life advocates seek 50,000 signatures to halt Massachusetts abortion law

Pro-life advocates in Massachusetts are collecting signatures to challenge a law that removed all restrictions on abortion in the state. The Repeal 188 initiative aims to collect enough signatures to place the law on a 2028 statewide ballot and potentially suspend the law before that vote occurs.

Governor Maura Healey signed the law on Aug. 10, which allows women to obtain abortions at any point in pregnancy for any reason. Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, described the policy as an affront to the dignity of life.

To qualify for the 2028 ballot through a veto referendum, the coalition must collect 37,289 signatures, representing at least 1.5% of the votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. To suspend the law before the election, petitioners must collect 49,716 signatures, which equals 2% of those votes.