Updated October 2, 2018

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to decline to hear an appeal in a case that has made it easier to restrict abortion in the State of Tennessee.

Abortion-rights supporters had hoped to change the state constitution, which added language saying nothing in the document “secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion.”

The change was approved by a majority of the State’s voters, but the plaintiffs argued the state’s method of counting votes was unfair and allowed voters to game the system.

A federal judge agreed calling the vote-counting system unconstitutional. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that decision in January.

Yesterday’s denial by the U.S. Supreme Court leaves the constitutional amendment intact.