TL/DR –
The Arizona for Abortion Access campaign has gathered 823,685 signatures on petitions to overrule Republican legislators who wanted to reintroduce a 19th-century law that would imprison anyone who helps a woman get an abortion. The number of signatures is more than double the 383,923 needed to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. If successful, the proposal would make abortion a constitutional right in Arizona, guaranteed until the point of viability and beyond in some cases.
Abortion Rights in Arizona: A Tremor for Republicans?
Working to preserve abortion rights in Arizona, activists made a significant stride towards the November ballot on Wednesday.
The Arizona for Abortion Access campaign submitted 823,685 signatures, opposing Republican legislators who sought to revert abortion laws to those of 1864.
These legislators believe anyone aiding a woman in getting an abortion should face a mandatory two to five years in prison, without exceptions for cases of rape or minors.
1 in 5 voters signed to have a say on abortion
Despite setbacks for Democratic presidential prospects, 7,000 volunteers tirelessly collected signatures. Their efforts resulted in a record-breaking number of signatures, over twice the 383,923 required to propose a constitutional amendment.
With one in five voters signing petitions to put the Arizona Abortion Access Act on the ballot, this is a clear political misstep for Republicans.
Arizona Republicans’ miscalculations
Polls indicate most Arizonans support abortion to an extent, but not to the point of reverting to laws from the 19th century. Republicans misjudged the public sentiment when they fought to retain the 1864 law, rather than reverting to the state’s 15-week ban, which doesn’t make exceptions for rape or incest.
Five Republican legislators joined Democrats to repeal the 1864 law and restore the 15-week ban passed in 2022.
Under the ballot proposal, abortion would become a constitutional right in Arizona, guaranteed until the point of viability and beyond in some cases.
U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, who once praised the 1864 ban as a “great law”, may now be in a political dilemma, along with U.S. Reps. David Schweikert and Juan Ciscomani.
Fast, deep and inevitable fallout
The Republican legislators clinging to a marginal majority in both the state House and Senate, along with Supreme Court Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King, might face repercussions from their support of the 19th-century abortion ban.
The consequences of their ruling are likely to be far-reaching and with 823,685 signatures, the Republicans might be unable to halt the fallout.
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