Written by Don Byrd
Voters in tonight’s North Dakota elections have soundly rejected Measure 3, which would have enacted a state Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The law would have required government to have a compelling state interest before placing a burden on a person’s free exercise of religion, whether that exercise was an affirmative action or the refusal to act. InForum has more:
Proponents said the amendment would bolster religious freedom.
Opponents said Measure 3 was worded vaguely, could lead to “freedom of religion” being used as a defense in criminal cases and was unnecessary as religious freedom is not threatened here.
Tom Fiebiger, a Fargo-based civil rights attorney and chairman of North Dakotans Against Measure 3, released a statement that said, in part:
“We are grateful North Dakotans did the right thing and rejected this unnecessary and potentially dangerous Measure.”
With most of the vote in, No was leading by a nearly 2 to 1 margin.
