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NORCROSS, Georgia, August 1, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A strong majority of voters participating in Georgia’s GOP primary yesterday supported a non-binding ballot question on whether to grant state constitutional recognition of personhood for the unborn child.

Sixty-six percent of voters in Tuesday’s GOP primary expressed support for amending the Constitution of Georgia in the future to grant the “paramount right to life” to all human beings from their earliest biological existence until natural death.

The amendment question won in 158 of 159 counties, garnering 593,250 votes of the 902,512 cast statewide, according to Georgia Right to Life (GRTL), which spearheaded the question. The group noted that, in most counties, support was between 71% to 78%.

Georgia Right to Life President Dan Becker called on the State Legislature to acknowledge the strong public pro-life sentiment displayed by the result, and approve placing a human rights amendment before all voters in 2014.

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“Personhood amendments do not grant rights to anyone—they merely recognize the God-given rights of every individual human being,” said Becker in a statement Wednesday. “The people of Georgia have shown that they are ready to vote ‘Yes’ on personhood. It is time for the legislature to ensure that the Georgia Personhood amendment is on the ballot … time to let every Georgian decide the human rights issue of the 21st century.”

Unlike some other states that have seen Personhood initiatives on general election ballots, Georgia requires the legislature’s approval to authorize ballot amendment questions.

In answer to criticisms, GRTL says the amendment would not bar “the use of many contraceptives,” would “continue to grant women essential health care, permit in-vitro fertilization and most stem cell research, as well as allowing abortion to save the life of the mother.”

Becker pointed to recent national polls showing most Americans are against abortion on demand, and growing concern over healthcare rationing for the elderly, saying the need for a Personhood amendment is more pressing than ever.

“We’re living in a society that sadly accepts death—either abortion or the willful neglect of the fragile—as a way to deal with perceived problems,” Becker said, “and that violates both God’s will and our right to life guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence.”