Gay Marriage Back on the Ballot in Georgia

Already banned in Georgia, gay marriage could sustain another setback when voters decide November 2 whether to amend the state constitution to further forbid it.

More than 3 million registered voters throughout Georgia are expected to cast ballots in this year’s election – pointing to what could be the state’s largest turnout ever. That windfall could seal the fate of gay marriage with a recent poll showing most Georgians are in favor of adding an anti-gay marriage amendment to the state constitution.

Furthermore, in a 5-2 vote, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the gay marriage amendment, in its current wording, will remain on the November 2 ballot. The ruling came amid a heated dispute between both sides of the issue and just a week before the presidential election. [...]

A majority of Georgia lawmakers want the constitution amended to prevent any court action from overturning the current state law which already bans gay marriage. Opponents of the measure appealed to the courts, saying the version to appear on the Nov. 2 ballot omitted a critical second paragraph that would not only ban same-sex marriages, but threaten same-sex legal unions and domestic partnership benefits, as well. (source)