Arizonans will have the chance to vote on whether to enshrine abortion rights within the state constitution this November. The Secretary of State's office confirmed yesterday that a coalition, Arizona for Abortion Access, successfully gathered 577,971 verified signatures, surpassing the required threshold to place the initiative on the ballot. This effort, according to 12 News, marks a historic moment for citizens' initiatives in the state.
Campaign manager Cheryl Bruce expressed the significance of the milestone stating, "This is a huge win for Arizona voters who will now get to vote YES on restoring and protecting the right to access abortion care, free from political interference, once and for all," as obtained by 12 News. Currently, Arizona law restricts abortions to within 15 weeks of pregnancy, with certain conditions applying. This ballot measure proposes to extend this period to when a fetus is able to survive outside the womb, around 24 weeks, including provisions to safeguard the mother's life or health.
The right to an abortion has been at the forefront of Democratic campaigns since the Supreme Court's overthrowing of Roe v. Wade last year. The Arizona initiative is part of a broader pattern, with similar issues soon to be voted on in states such as Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota. Supporters of the measure argue that a constitutional amendment would protect abortion rights from being undermined by future court rulings or legislation. Critics, however, worry the amendment could lead to unrestricted abortions in the state.
Submissions for the ballot measure initially totaled 823,685 signatures, which were well above the needed 383,923 from registered voters, indicating strong support for the initiative. Despite the repeal of a historic 1864 law that banned abortions except to save the mother's life, advocates believe constitutional protection is essential. According to AccessWDUN, opponents feel the amendment may go too far. This November's results will ultimately determine the direction Arizona takes on this contentious issue.
