The Alabama Senate delayed until next week a vote on a bill to ban abortion after an uproar over a key amendment.

The Senate abruptly removed a rape and incest exception from the bill without allowing a roll call vote on that decision.

The move shocked Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, who had just said at the Senate mic that he wanted a roll call vote on every question concerning the abortion bill.

Singleton and other Democratic senators strongly objected to Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, who presides over the Senate, for his quick gavel on tabling the rape and incest amendment on a voice vote, meaning there is no recorded vote.

The bill, which passed the House last week, is intended to trigger a challenge to the Roe v. Wade decision.

Doctors would be charged with a felony for performing or attempting to perform an abortion. The woman would not be liable.

The bill would allow abortions to protect the woman from serious health risks.

The bill passed the House of Representatives by a 74-3 vote last week, with the Republican majority supporting it. Democrats opposed the bill and offered amendments but most did not participate in the final vote.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill on Wednesday and added the rape and incest amendment that was removed by the Senate today.