Organizers leading an effort to reduce Arkansas’ abortion ban announced that they have gathered more than sufficient signatures to present their proposal to voters in the upcoming November election.
Arkansans for Limited Government submitted their petitions and confirmed that they have surpassed the required 90,704 signatures from registered voters. Now, election officials will begin verifying the validity of the signatures.
This submission makes it the sixth state where election officials are in the process of validating signatures for abortion-related measures. Five other states already have these measures on the ballot, along with a proposed amendment in New York that aims to prevent discrimination based on “pregnancy outcomes.”
Additionally, supporters of other abortion measures in Arizona and Nebraska also submitted their petitions in their respective states on Wednesday.
The outcome of these measures could potentially alter or confirm the trends that have emerged since the U.S. Supreme Court revoked the nationwide right to abortion two years ago.
Following the ruling, the majority of states controlled by Republicans have implemented new abortion restrictions, with 14 states banning abortion at all stages of pregnancy. On the other hand, most states led by Democrats have enacted laws or executive orders to safeguard access to abortion.
Voters in all seven states that have addressed abortion-related matters since 2022 have sided with advocates for abortion rights. These states include California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, and Vermont.
Related story: Abortion measures could be on Arizona and Nebraska ballots after organizers submit signatures
