Arizona voters will have the opportunity to vote in November on whether to add the right to an abortion to the state constitution.
The Arizona secretary of state’s office announced on Monday that they had certified 577,971 signatures, surpassing the required number needed to put the measure on the ballot.
The coalition behind the initiative, Arizona for Abortion Access, called it the largest number of signatures ever validated for a citizens’ initiative in the state.
“This is a significant victory for Arizona voters, who will now have the chance to vote YES on restoring and safeguarding the right to access abortion care without political interference,” stated campaign manager Cheryl Bruce.
Abortion rights have become a focal point for Democrats since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, playing a key role in this year’s elections.
Arizona is one of several states where voters will decide on abortion-related measures this year, along with Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota.
The current Arizona law prohibits abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions for medical emergencies and restrictions on non-surgical abortions. It also requires an ultrasound and parental consent for minors.
The proposed amendment would allow abortions up to around 24 weeks, with exceptions for the mother’s health and would prevent the state from enacting laws that restrict access to the procedure.
Opponents argue that the measure goes too far and could lead to unregulated abortions in the state, while supporters believe a constitutional amendment is necessary to protect abortion rights.
Recently, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 abortion ban that only allowed abortions to save the mother’s life, prompting the Republican-controlled Legislature to repeal it and Governor Katie Hobbs to sign the repeal.
This 19th-century law was invalidated following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which removed constitutional protections for abortion.
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