2014 Tennessee Amendment 1

none the Tennessee amendment in 2022 regarding labor unions 2022 Tennessee Amendment 1 February 2026 January 2025 Amendment 1 Tennessee 2014 11 04 Tennessee 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. 729,163 657,192 1,386,355 350px County results 350px Congressional district results 350px Precinct results Yes: #B6C8D9 50–60% #7D9CBB 60–70% #47729E 70–80% #28497C 80–90% #2B2457 90–100%No: #DEDEBD 50–60% #BCBC83 60–70% #8B8B54 70–80% #5D5D2D 80–90% #32320C 90–100% #808080 No data Source: Tennessee Secretary of StateTennessee Amendment 1 Election Results https://sos-tn-gov-files.s3.amazonaws.com/20141104_CountyTotals_01.pdf Tennessee Secretary of State en November 4, 2014 Tennessee Voter Turnout in 2014 Tennessee Secretary of State https://sos.tn.gov/elections/statistics February 28, 2023 35.97 The Tennessee Constitutional Amendment: 1, commonly known as Amendment 1 or the No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment, is an approved legislatively referred constitutional amendment to the Constitution of Tennessee that appeared on the ballot on November 4, 2014.Tennessee Amendment 1, No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment (2014) https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_Amendment_1,_No_State_Constitutional_Right_to_Abortion_and_Legislative_Power_to_Regulate_Abortion_Amendment_(2014) 2023-10-01 Ballotpedia en The amendment would ensure that Constitution of Tennessee, would not support, fund, or protect the right to an abortion. Content The amendment added the following to Article I of the Constitution of Tennessee: "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."SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 127 http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/SJR0127.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20140725170841/http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/SJR0127.pdf 2014-07-25 2023-10-01 The following is the official text from the Tennessee Secretary of State, that appeared on the ballot: "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." A vote for Amendment 1 supports ensuring the Constitution of Tennessee does not uphold most abortions and supporting the General Assembly having power to pass laws regarding the regulation of abortion. A vote against Amendment 1 opposes this amendment and restricts the General Assembly from creating legislation or passing laws that regulate abortion. Supporters thumb|224x224px|Governor Bill Haslam, was one of the well-known supporters of Amendment 1 Officials and politicians, mainly Republicans, voiced their support for the amendment, both during the vote on it in the General Assembly and when it appeared on the ballot. Pro-life organizations, such as Tennessee Right to Life and Americans United for Life, also voiced strong support for the amendment. Leslie Hunse, the education director for Tennessee Right to Life, said, "We want our constitution to go back to neutral on the issue of abortion, so we can pass some common sense regulations to protect mothers and children."Marotta Lexie Amendment 1 starts a conversation https://gryphonlodge.com/2771/opinion/amendment-1-starts-a-conversation/ 2023-10-01 The Lodge "Yes on 1" was the main organization supporting the campaign, with signs and television advertisements. Opponents Vote NO on One Tennessee led the campaign in opposition to the ballot measure. Representatives, senators, and some faith leaders opposed the amendment. The ACLU and Planned Parenthood, among other large organizations, also opposed the amendment, and contributed large campaign contributions up to the election. Planned Parenthood organizations nationwide, spent a total of nearly $2 million, in campaign contributions opposing Amendment 1, while the ACLU donated $135,000 in opposition. State Senator Roy Herron said, "Their pitch is that this would make the constitution neutral on abortion. How would they like the Constitution neutral on the Second Amendment so legislators could outlaw the right to bear arms? How about making the First Amendment neutral?" Nashville-based, statewide newspaper, The Tennessean, also opposed this amendment, stating, "Making any type of law immune from a court challenge is shortsighted, prejudicial — and in the case of what should be a woman's own decision about her health — downright dangerous. For those reasons, The Tennessean recommends a vote of no on Amendment 1." General election Endorsements Yes on 1 ;State officials Bill Haslam (R), Governor of Tennessee (2011-2019) Ron Ramsey (R), Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee (2007-2017) Lamar Alexander (R), US Senator (R-TN) and former Governor of Tennessee Beth Harwell (R), Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives (2011-2018) Former state legislators David Fowler (R), former member of the Tennessee Senate, from the 11th district Organizations Tennessee Right to Life Notable Individuals Jim Bob Duggar, former Arkansas state representative and television personality Richard F. Stika, Bishop of the Diocese of KnoxvilleVote NO on One Tennessee ;State officials Gloria Johnson (D) member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 13th district Former state legislators Roy Herron (D), former member of the Tennessee Senate, from the 24th district Organizations Tennessee Democratic Party Planned Parenthood American Civil Liberties Union Tennesseans for Preservation of Personal Privacy Polling Poll sourceDate(s) administeredSample sizeMargin of errorFor Amendment 1Against Amendment 1UndecidedMiddle Tennessee State University2014-10-30 'Too close to call' on Amendment 1: Ballot measure pits abortion against big government Chattanooga Times Free Press https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/oct/30/too-close-to-call-on-amendment-1/ 2023-10-01 www.timesfreepress.com enOctober 22–26, 2014600± 4.0%39%32%29%Remington ResearchWadhwani Anita Duggar family campaigns for Tennessee's abortion amendment https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2014/09/29/duggar-family-campaigns-tennessees-abortion-amendment/16450995/ 2023-10-01 The Tennessean en-USSeptember 24–25, 2014600± 4.0%50%22%28%Vanderbilt UniversityApril 28 – May 13, 2014 Vanderbilt University Poll https://www.vanderbilt.edu/csdi/May_2014_VUPoll_Slides.pdfApril 28-May 18, 20141,505± 3.4%23%71%6% Results alt=|thumb|350x350px|Precinct results Amendment 1 729163 657192 Secretary of State of Tennessee By county Source:State of Tennessee General Election - November 4, 2014 https://sos-tn-gov-files.s3.amazonaws.com/20141104_CountyTotals_01.pdf Tennessee Secretary of State CountyYesNoTotal votes%#%#Anderson50.54%9,21349.46%9,01618,229Bedford59.98%4,63440.02%3,0927,726Benton58.61%2,18841.39%1,5453,733Bledsoe62.97%1,66037.03%9762,636Blount54.01%16,36445.99%13,93430,298Bradley68.87%14,12231.13%6,38420,506Campbell62.14%4,00837.86%2,4426,450Cannon62.82%1,83337.18%1,0852,918Carroll66.08%4,14233.92%2,1266,268Carter64.78%7,02635.22%3,82010,846Cheatham53.72%4,73846.28%4,0818,819Chester75.88%2,61524.12%8313,446Claiborne59.17%3,13840.83%2,1655,303Clay62.85%93937.15%5551,494Cocke60.64%4,28639.36%2,7827,068Coffee57.81%6,69542.19%4,88711,582Crockett69.03%2,01330.97%9032,916Cumberland60.39%9,88539.61%6,48416,369Davidson33.65%46,71766.35%92,098138,815Decatur63.01%1,44336.99%8472,290DeKalb61.68%2,28238.32%1,4183,700Dickson54.25%5,72645.75%4,82910,555Dyer64.32%4,65135.68%2,5807,231Fayette58.71%6,14441.29%4,32010,464Fentress68.67%2,26231.33%1,0323,294Franklin56.74%5,47343.26%4,1729,645Gibson71.50%7,98928.50%3,18411,173Giles57.23%3,19442.77%2,3875,581Grainger61.64%2,55238.36%1,5884,140Greene61.60%8,04338.40%5,01413,057Grundy63.72%1,53036.28%8712,401Hamblen66.31%7,53033.69%3,82511,355Hamilton49.01%39,81750.99%41,42181,238Hancock63.92%60636.08%342948Hardeman49.87%2,46450.13%2,4774,941Hardin67.35%3,38532.65%1,6415,026Hawkins63.54%6,66736.46%3,82510,492Haywood48.68%1,68351.32%1,7743,457Henderson75.33%3,80524.67%1,2465,051Henry56.28%4,01343.72%3,1187,131Hickman58.13%2,65341.87%1,9114,564Houston48.62%86451.38%9131,777Humphreys55.47%2,32444.53%1,8664,190Jackson63.20%1,63536.80%9522,587Jefferson61.92%6,50938.08%4,00310,512Johnson63.95%2,02936.05%1,1443,173Knox48.33%50,63551.67%54,124104,759Lake68.57%65031.43%298948Lauderdale55.82%2,25444.18%1,7844,038Lawrence73.40%6,54926.60%2,3748,923Lewis63.39%1,79736.61%1,0382,835Lincoln72.99%4,39427.01%1,6266,020Loudon56.50%8,31943.50%6,40514,724Macon68.04%2,27231.96%1,0673,339Madison62.66%14,50837.34%8,64723,155Marion53.92%3,38946.08%2,8966,285Marshall54.81%3,31845.19%2,7366,054Maury57.61%11,03842.39%8,12119,159McMinn65.89%7,06034.11%3,65410,714McNairy63.48%3,39936.52%1,9555,354Meigs58.64%1,29341.36%9122,205Monroe61.78%6,17238.22%3,8199,991Montgomery50.70%14,84149.30%14,43329,274Moore65.53%1,15834.47%6091,767Morgan62.66%2,31737.34%1,3813,698Obion76.58%4,93723.42%1,5106,447Overton63.75%2,62436.25%1,4924,116Perry53.75%76046.25%6541,414Pickett64.70%1,08335.30%5911,674Polk60.02%2,14239.98%1,4273,569Putnam61.74%9,38038.26%5,81315,193Rhea67.51%4,06932.49%1,9586,027Roane54.33%7,38145.67%6,20413,585Robertson56.69%8,07043.31%6,16514,235Rutherford56.26%31,68843.74%24,63456,322Scott66.38%2,03233.62%1,0293,061Sequatchie62.12%1,93537.88%1,1803,115Sevier61.59%11,82738.41%7,37519,202Shelby37.10%69,29262.90%117,472186,764Smith61.77%2,69738.23%1,6694,366Stewart55.42%1,64744.58%1,3252,972Sullivan59.24%19,70040.76%13,55333,253Sumner59.42%22,65840.58%15,47638,134Tipton58.28%7,10141.72%5,08412,185Trousdale56.00%88744.00%6971,584Unicoi63.34%2,48136.66%1,4363,917Union56.00%1,67544.00%1,3162,991Van Buren60.50%92839.50%6061,534Warren62.69%4,92137.31%2,9297,850Washington57.71%15,51542.29%11,36726,882Wayne69.50%1,91430.50%8402,754Weakley71.77%5,15228.23%2,0267,178White65.49%4,04734.51%2,1336,180Williamson56.57%34,42243.43%26,42560,847Wilson57.12%17,34642.88%13,02130,367Total52.60%729,16347.40%657,192 1,386,355 Analysis The results for Amendment 1 revealed a significant urban-rural divide across Tennessee. While major urban centers showed the most concentrated opposition to the measure, the amendment found its strongest support in the rural regions of the state. Specifically, the band of rural counties located between the Nashville and Memphis metropolitan areas. Similarly, East Tennessee remained a stronghold for the "Yes" vote, with the exceptions of Knox and Hamilton counties, which saw higher levels of opposition than their more rural neighbors.Urban-rural split on Amendment 1 was defining but not a new concept http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/urban-rural-split-on-amendment-1-was-defining--but-not-a-new-concept-ep-753000816-324301661.html 2026-03-30 www.commercialappeal.com en Notably, the only rural counties to vote in opposition were Haywood and Hickman in West Tennessee and Houston in Middle Tennessee; at the time these areas were characterized as ancestral Democratic strongholds where some Democrats continued to hold local offices.Farmer Blake November 5, 2014 Tennessee's Abortion Amendment Reveals Rural-Urban Divide https://wpln.org/post/tennessees-abortion-amendment-reveals-rural-urban-divide/ March 30, 2026 WPLN News The geographic split was further defined by the influence of suburban and exurban counties. In Shelby and Davidson counties, the "No" vote defeated "Yes" by a 64–36 margin; however, these two population centers accounted for only 27% of the statewide electorate. The amendment's success was heavily bolstered by the six suburban counties surrounding Nashville—including Williamson, which had the state's highest turnout at 44.6%—which together provided approximately 40% of the statewide "Yes" margin. Despite the "No" campaign outspending the "Yes" side by a 3-to-1 margin in the final month, the measure passed amid a low-turnout midterm environment where grassroots and church-based mobilization in rural areas proved decisive. Political analysts noted that because the 2014 gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races were largely non-competitive, the amendment became the primary driver for "true believer" voters who may not have otherwise participated in the midterm. Experts suggested the amendment might not have passed in a higher-turnout presidential election year where the electorate is typically more left-leaning. Notably, this amendment had more votes cast than the governor and Senate election. Lawsuit regarding counting of votes George et al. v. Haslam et al. In 2014, Tracey E. George, along with 4 others, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for Middle Tennessee, alleging that the state's method of counting votes for the amendment was unconstitutional. They argued that the state violated the Tennessee Constitution by not ensuring that voters who supported the amendment also voted in the gubernatorial race. The state's defense claimed their approach was based on constitutional interpretation and historical practice. The court denied the state's request to dismiss the case. In response, state attorneys filed a counter-suit in a Williamson County court, asserting that their vote-counting method aligned with the state constitution.Gershman Jacob 2014-11-14 Federal Lawsuit Challenges Tennessee Antiabortion Amendment en-US Wall Street Journal http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2014/11/14/federal-lawsuit-challenges-tennessee-antiabortion-amendment/ 2023-10-01 0099-9660Wadhwani Anita Judge upholds vote count on Tennessee abortion ballot measure https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/21/judge-upholds-vote-count-tennessee-abortion-ballot-measure/83358638/ 2023-10-01 The Tennessean en-US thumb|212x212px|Judge Kevin H. Sharp On April 21, 2016, Williamson County Judge Michael Binkley sided with the state, allowing votes from individuals who didn't participate in the gubernatorial race to be counted for the amendment. However, the next day, federal judge Kevin H. Sharp ruled against the state in the original federal lawsuit. He stated that only votes from individuals who also voted for gubernatorial candidates should be considered valid for the amendment. Judge Sharp emphasized the inequality in weighing votes, where those who voted against Amendment 1 and for governor were not given the same significance as those who voted in favor of the amendment but did not participate in the governor's race. Consequently, Sharp ordered the state to recount the 2014 election results.Andrews Becca Here's How Tennessee's Extreme Anti-Abortion Amendment Could Face Its Downfall https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/04/tennessees-abortion-amendment-gets-federal-order-recount-its-votes/ 2023-10-01 Mother Jones en-USWadhwani Anita Tennessee abortion measure recount tab could be $1M https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2016/05/20/tennessee-abortion-measure-recount-tab-could-1m/84651106/ 2023-10-01 The Tennessean en-US On April 26, 2016, Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery appealed Sharp's ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, asserting that the matter of determining the required vote to amend the Tennessee Constitution should be decided by state law and Tennessee courts. State attorneys requested a postponement of the recount until the appeal was resolved, citing the need to avoid additional strain on election officials preparing for upcoming elections. On January 9, 2018, the Sixth Circuit, in a unanimous decision, stated that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate how the state had diluted their votes, emphasizing that federal intervention in a lawful state election process was unwarranted. The court concluded that the controversy surrounding the 2014 approval of Amendment 1 needed resolution. The plaintiffs then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear the case on October 1, 2018.2018-01-09 U.S. appeals court upholds Tennessee anti-abortion vote en Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tennessee-abortion-idUSKBN1EY2GV 2023-10-01Wadhwani Anita Appeals court upholds vote count on Tennessee abortion measure Amendment 1 https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/01/09/appeals-court-upholds-vote-count-tennessee-abortion-measure-amendment-1/1017274001/ 2023-10-01 The Tennessean en-US See also 2014 Tennessee elections References Category:2014 ballot measures in the United States Category:2014 in Tennessee Category:2014 Tennessee elections Category:Abortion referendums in the United States Category:Legislatively referred ballot measures Category:Tennessee law Category:U.S. state constitutional amendments Category:United States state abortion legislation