Unknown sender of misleading Kansas abortion text suspended from messaging platform

The anonymous sender of misleading text messages urging Kansans to vote “yes” to “give women a choice” was suspended from its messaging platform Monday.

Twilio, the developers of a communications app often used by political campaigns, deemed the messages violated their terms of use which prohibit the “spread of disinformation.”

The move came hours after Kansans, including prominent Democrat former Gov. Kathleen Sebeilus, received the messages on a ballot measure that would remove the right to an abortion from the state constitution.

A yes vote would add language removing the right to abortion, which would allow lawmakers to pass laws severely restricting or banning abortion. A no vote would keep the status quo and uphold a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision that found a right to end a pregnancy within the Kansas Constitution.

The state’s main anti-abortion groups— The Value Them Both Coalition, Kansans for Life and Operation Rescue— all said they did not send the message. The Kansas Republican Party also said it is not responsible. A spokeswoman for the Value Them Both Coalition said no member of the coalition, which includes Kansas Family Voice, Kansans for Life and the Kansas Catholic Conference, sent the text.

Cris Paden, a spokesperson for Twilio, confirmed the suspension in an email Tuesday.

He would not answer questions about who sent the text.

Monday evening, Twilio responded to messages on Twitter alerting them to the messages.

“We have an active ticket open with our Fraud team and have escalated it for faster processing,” the post said.

Here’s what you need to know about the vote:

What does the Value Them Both constitutional amendment say?

Last year, the Kansas Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to Kansas voters that would overturn the 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision that found a right to abortion in the state constitution.

Supporters call the amendment Value Them Both, referring to the pregnant mother and fetus. The amendment would add the following language to the state constitution:

“Regulation of abortion. Because Kansans value both women and children, the constitution of the state of Kansas does not require government funding of abortion and does not create or secure a right to abortion. To the extent permitted by the constitution of the United States, the people, through their elected state representatives and state senators, may pass laws regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, laws that account for circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, or circumstances of necessity to save the life of the mother.”

What happens to abortion rights if Kansans vote ‘yes’?

A “yes” vote would add language codifying that nothing in the state constitution guarantees the right to an abortion.

It would not immediately ban abortion or change existing laws and regulations. However, it would mean Kansas lawmakers are empowered to pass any abortion restrictions allowable by federal law.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, state lawmakers will be able pass legislation intended to ban abortion in Kansas if the amendment passes. They would not be required to include exemptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother.

What happens if Kansans vote ‘no’ on the amendment?

If Kansans vote “no,” the state constitution would not change, and the state level right to an abortion would remain even after the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The Legislature would continue to be barred from passing legislation that would restrict abortion access.

Lawmakers could try again to pass the constitutional amendment if it fails. The 2019 decision establishing abortion as a right could also be overruled by justices in the future.