Anti-Abortion Ballot Proposal Uncertain in Miss.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Organizers have little time left for a new Mississippi initiative that would declare life begins at conception.

Abortion opponents face a Wednesday deadline to put the proposed state constitutional amendment on the 2015 ballot. They must submit signatures from more than 107,000 registered voters.

If they miss the deadline, the initiative will die.

The Associated Press called circuit clerks in 12 large counties Friday. Workers said they had received no petitions. Clerks must verify signatures before petitions go to the secretary of state.

Mississippi voters rejected a nearly identical life-at-fertilization amendment in 2011. But, supporters said they thought people who voted against it were confused by how it would affect in-vitro fertilization and birth control.

Opponents say a new initiative is a waste of time because voters have spoken.