Has Tennessee's Abortion Amendment been duscussed here yet?

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More Tennesseans support a proposed constitutional amendment on abortion than oppose the measure, according to a new public poll on Amendment 1 one week before voters will decide the hot-button issue, but the margin is slim and many voters are still undecided.

A poll on this year's biggest ballot fight, released by Middle Tennessee State University on Wednesday, found that 39 percent of the 600 registered Tennessee voters polled are for Amendment 1, which would grant power to state lawmakers to set restrictions over abortions.

A close vote may be in store for Tennessee's proposed constitutional amendment on abortion, according to new polling from Middle Tennessee State University.

Thirty-two percent said they oppose the measure, while 15 percent are still undecided. Eight percent of respondents said they won't vote and 6 percent did not answer.

The poll has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

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The amendment, if passed, would effectively overturn a 2000 Tennessee Supreme Court decision that found the state constitution preserves access to abortion services and limits the legislature's ability to regulate them.

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Amendment 1 supporters take issue with the Tennessee Supreme Court's 2000 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Sundquist. The court's ruling struck down multiple laws regulating abortion services, including:[6]

Requirement that second-trimester abortions be performed in hospitals as opposed to clinics.

:48-hour waiting period before receiving an abortion requirement.

:Requirement of physician-only counseling before an abortion is performed.

:Exemption to requirements only in circumstances where a woman’s life is threatened.

:Mandate to prove residency.

Supporters of Amendment 1 believe the measure would allow the legislature to enact whatever regulations and restrictions are permitted by the United States Supreme Court. As Sen. Mae Beavers said, "[The amendment] is meant to neutralize the 2000 Supreme Court decision." Some proponents interpret the Planned Parenthood v. Sundquist ruling as stating that the Tennessee Constitution contains a stronger right to privacy and abortion than even the U.S. Constitution.[7]

The court said the ruling was informed by both the state and federal constitutions:[6]

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