Groups supporting the inclusion of reproductive rights in Arizona's state constitution affirm that they have surpassed the necessary signature beginning to introduce a constitutional amendment on abortion to the state's ballot in November.
Organizations Advocating for Reproductive Rights Collected Enough Signatures
Arizona for Abortion Access, an association of reproductive rights organizations such as the ACLU of Arizona and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, declared that it had collected 506,892 petition signatures as of the past weekend. With over three months remaining until the July 3 deadline to submit the signatures to Arizona's secretary of state, the organization is confident that it will be able to meet the deadline.
The beginning for placing a measure on the ballot is 383,923 signatures, and although some signatures commonly get void during the confirmation process, it seems that the amendment is on course to be presented to voters this autumn.
Cheryl Bruce, the campaign manager for Arizona for Abortion Access, emphasized the public's eagerness to see the issue on the ballot, noting that people are actively seeking out volunteers to sign the petition, highlighting their desire to restore access to abortion in Arizona.
Placing this issue on the ballot alongside President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in the fall will bring attention to a key component of the Democratic platform in a significant battleground state.
The 2022 Dobbs resolution by the Supreme Court, which overturned Roe v. Wade and delegated abortion policy to the states, has been a focus of Democratic campaigns.
Arizona, where Biden won by a margin of 0.3 percentage points four years ago, is the closest swing state from the 2020 election likely to feature an abortion ballot measure this fall.
Additionally, on Monday, Florida's state Supreme Court certified a related November ballot measure while upholding the state's present abortion restrictions. Trump won Florida by 3.4 points in 2020.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment Allow Abortion Care Until Fetal Development
The proposed constitutional amendment by Arizona for Abortion Access would build a "fundamental right" to get abortion care up until fetal growth, or roughly the 24th week of pregnancy, with ommissions afterward if deemed required by a healthcare professional to secure the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant women.
Opponents of the measure have raised concerns about the possibly broad application of the mental health omission, debating that it could make it too easy to stop viable pregnancies.
Currently, abortion is legal in Arizona up until the 15th week of gestation, with omissions afterward only to save the mother's life and no omissions for rape or incest.
The debate over the abortion ballot measure is further complicated by a pending state Supreme Court decision regarding an 1864 abortion ban still in effect.
Although this law hasn't been enforced since before Roe v. Wade, it classified performing or assisting in obtaining abortion care as a felony punishable by two to five years in prison.
The uncertainty surrounding abortion rights in the state has spurred an increase in volunteers supporting Arizona for Abortion Access to gather signatures.
Chris Love, a spokeswoman for the campaign, reports that the group has recruited over 3,000 volunteers. One such volunteer, Toby Urvater, a retiree, became a notary specifically for this cause, citing her lifelong familiarity with Roe v. Wade and her desire to uphold reproductive rights.
Deborah Nye, another volunteer, shared her personal experience of having an illegal abortion before Roe v. Wade, emphasizing her motivation to prevent her daughter from facing similar challenges.
While Arizona for Abortion Access aims to collect even more signatures, opponents of abortion rights have lawyers prepared to scrutinize each signature the organization submits.
Despite this opposition, Cheryl Bruce remains confident, expressing the organization's goal to gather 800,000 signatures, ensuring preparedness to withstand any legal challenges.
