[JURIST] Abortion rights activists in South Dakota [JURIST news archive] on Friday announced that they will seek a referendum [press release] that will overturn the state's newly-enacted abortion ban [PDF text]. The campaign [Reuters report], led by the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families [advocacy website], must collect 16,728 signatures by June 19 in order to get the issue on the November 7 ballot. If enough signatures are collected, the law will not take effect as scheduled on July 1.

Gov. Mike Rounds [official website] signed the legislation [JURIST report] two weeks ago, after it passed the Senate [JURIST report] and the House [JURIST report] last month. The law bans most abortions, excluding only those necessary to save a woman's life. AP has more.