JEFFERSON CITY — It’s entirely too early to be able to determine how many ballot initiatives Missouri voters will see on the November 2010 ballot, but they will have plenty of opportunity to sign petitions at the grocery store between now and May.

Two more ballot initiatives were approved for circulation by the Missouri Secretary of State’s office this week, both connected to the issue of abortion. There are currently 19 such ballot petitions approved for circulation, though few of those are expected to get the number of signatures necessary to actually be put before voters.

One of the two new petitions, filed by Gregory Thompson, would change the constitutional definition of “person” to be “from the beginning of biological development.” Were the ballot approved by voters, it would essentially grant constitutional rights to fetuses, and thus likely outlaw abortion.

Thompson is a former school superintendent in Missouri who is active in conservative issues. He was the Constitution Party’s nominee for governor in 2008.

The other petition approved for circulation is the 30th such ballot initiative sought by the Missouri Roundtable for Life in the last 22 months, a group seeking to ban certain forms of stem cell research in Missouri. The latest initiative would prohibit the use of state money for certain types of stem cell research. Many of the Roundtable for Life proposals have been withdrawn after court challenges.

According to the state auditor’s office, which analyzes proposed initiatives, the anti-stem cell initiative could have a negative impact on the state’s financial situation by reducing the flow of federal grant money to hospitals and research institutions.

The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, which pushed Amendment 2 in 2006 — a constitutional amendment that protected stem cell research in Missouri — is critical of the various Roundtable for Life proposals.

“While our greatest concern about Roundtable’s proposal is the harm it would inflict on the health and well-being of our families and friends, it’s clear the damage wouldn’t end there,” said Allen Todd, executive director of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures.

To see all the ballot initiatives approved for circulation, click here.