A group called Arizona for Abortion Access has submitted over 823,000 signatures in support of a proposed amendment to enshrine access to abortion in the state’s constitution. This is more than twice the required amount and is the largest number of signatures ever submitted in Arizona for a citizen-led ballot initiative. The amendment would establish a “fundamental right” to receive an abortion up until fetal viability and would prevent the state from restricting abortion in situations where the health or life of the pregnant person is at risk.
The group’s strategy was to collect as many signatures as possible to show strength and to ensure they had enough valid signatures if some were challenged or thrown out. The Arizona Secretary of State now has until August 27 to review the signatures and officially certify the measure for the November ballot. If approved, the measure would undo the 15-week abortion ban that was recently reinstated and then repealed in the state.
The debate over abortion rights has been intense in Arizona, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade. Putting the abortion issue on the ballot could help boost Democratic turnout in the 2024 election in Arizona, as well as in critical Senate and House races. Several other states are also advancing similar ballot measures to enshrine abortion rights in their constitutions.
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