Missourians for Constitutional Freedom

The state is shaping up to be a big battleground over abortion rights in November. Research shows a majority of U.S. Catholics support abortion rights — even though church leadership does not.

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom said they turned in more than 380,000 signatures into the Secretary of State’s office. The signatures must now be verified.

The proposed ballot item would have allowed for abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Backers of the ballot item legalizing abortion up to fetal viability held a number of signature gathering events on Tuesday.