A bill that would have added abortion rights and other left-wing issues to the New York constitution was removed from the ballot.
The news is a major blow for Democrats hoping to get voters to weigh in on the topic in November, as reported by Politico.
The initiative was defeated in a court ruling by a conservative judge in upstate Livingston County.
The judge questioned the constitutionality of the ballot question.
Six House districts up for grabs in New York that could decide chamber control next year.
Democrats are hoping the proposal will increase voter turnout in a pivotal election year.
The Democratic Party intends to file an appeal.
The appeal will be on the grounds that the ERA, along with similar measures in other states, will be allowed to remain on the November ballot by the Democrat-controlled Supreme Court.
Democrats have been making plans to spend $20 million to disenfranchise voters by highlighting the ERA and how it codified abortion rights into the Constitution.
In a statement, Attorney General Tish James said:
“This is a disappointing court decision, but we will appeal because New Yorkers deserve to be protected by their Constitution, especially as our basic freedoms and