On Wednesday, supporters of abortion rights in Arizona submitted over double the required number of signatures to get the issue on November’s ballot in the swing state.
Organizers confirmed that they exceeded the 383,923 signatures needed from registered voters. If approved by voters, the measure would amend the state constitution to establish a fundamental right to abortion.
County election officials have until August 22 to verify the validity of the petition signatures and report the results to the Arizona secretary of state’s office.
In addition to Arizona, activists in Nebraska and Arkansas are also planning to submit signatures this week for abortion-related ballot measures. If successful, these states will join five others where the issue will be put before voters this year: Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, and South Dakota.
The abortion issue is a focal point in Democratic campaigns this year. Opponents of the proposed amendment argue that it goes too far and could lead to unregulated abortions in Arizona. Supporters believe that a constitutional change is necessary to safeguard abortion rights from being easily overturned by court decisions or legislative actions.
Related Story: Biden administration tells doctors to provide emergency abortions
The proposed amendment in Arizona would allow abortions up to around 24 weeks, with exceptions for saving the parent’s life or protecting their health. It would prevent the state from enacting laws that restrict access to abortion.
Currently, Arizona has a 15-week abortion ban in effect.
Arizona for Abortion Access, a coalition including ACLU of Arizona and Planned Parenthood of Arizona, will deliver hundreds of boxes of signed petitions to the secretary of state’s office on Wednesday morning.
A spokesperson for Arizona for Abortion Access, Dawn Penich, expressed that it was the largest number of signatures ever submitted for a citizens’ initiative in the state.
Arizona’s current abortion ban was enacted in 2022 and includes exceptions for emergencies and restrictions on medication abortions, ultrasounds, and parental consent.
Related Story: Citizens in half of states can’t force ballot measures on abortion
In Nebraska, organizers are confident about having gathered enough signatures to place abortion rights on the November ballot.
Nebraska has multiple efforts, including efforts to codify the 12-week abortion ban and banning abortion altogether, requiring around 123,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Arkansas supporters of a proposal to adjust the state’s abortion ban need to submit petitions by Friday to qualify for the November ballot. The amendment would restrict the state from banning abortions up to 18 weeks, with exemptions for various circumstances.
