An amendment that would strengthen the right to abortion in the constitution of Arizonaextending the period in which abortions can be performed, will appear on the state ballot in the 2024 elections.
The bill aims to reform the state constitution extending the right to abortion, which is currently legally permitted up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, up to 24 weeks.
“This is a huge victory for Arizona voters, who will now be able to vote to restore and protect women’s reproductive rights free from political interference,” she said in a statement Tuesday. Cheryl Bruce, Director of the Arizona Coalition for Abortion Access.
The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office certified on Monday that Arizona for Abortion Access gathered 577,971 signatures from registered voters to bring the initiative to the ballot boxmany more than those needed (383,923) to reach the polls.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes signed the citizen initiative on Monday with “the largest number of validated signatures on a petition in the history” of the state, the organization noted.
The now Proposal 139 seeks to amend the state constitution and establish a “fundamental right” for women to have the right to request an abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
The initiative contemplates exceptions, such as in the case where a doctor decides that it is necessary to perform an abortion during a more advanced pregnancy. to protect a woman’s physical or mental health.
Currently, Arizona has a state law that allows abortion only up to 15 weeks of gestation.
The right to abortion has become one of the key issues in the run-up to the state, federal and presidential elections in November.
Arizona drew national attention when it came close to implementing a law passed in 1864 earlier this year that made abortion virtually impossible in the state.
The legislation, passed before Arizona was a state and women could vote, was overridden by a bipartisan initiative passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs.
The right to abortion has taken on greater importance since the Supreme Court of the United States revoked the federal protection of the right to abortion under Roe v. Wade in 2022.
The promoters of the citizen initiative assure that Never in the history of Arizona have so many signatures been collected to take a petition to the polls.
During his most recent visit to Arizona, Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris expressed her support for abortion rights, who has followers among independent voters and Latinos.
A similar citizen initiative will also be on the ballot this year in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York and South Dakota.
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