Arizona and Nebraska could see abortion measures on their ballots this November after organizers from both states submitted over 800,000 signatures. In Arizona, supporters of abortion rights turned in 823,685 signatures to put the issue before voters. The proposed amendment would establish a fundamental right to an abortion and allow the procedure until fetal viability with exceptions for the mother's life or physical and mental health. If successful, Arizona would join at least five other states where voters will decide on constitutional amendments regarding abortion rights.
In Nebraska, organizers of competing measures plan to submit signatures this week. The outcome in Nebraska could make it the only state with an abortion-restricting measure on the November ballot.
Arizona's current 15-week ban on abortions has been a topic of controversy since the state supreme court ruled that an 1864 law outlawing most abortions could be enforced. The decision set off a flurry of legislative activity, with Democrats attempting to repeal the pre-Roe ban and Republicans supporting it.
The abortion issue has become a significant motivator for voters in the upcoming general election, especially since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Arizona for Abortion Access, the coalition behind the Arizona ballot measure, plans to spend $50 million on their campaign to convince voters that Arizona needs a constitutional amendment protecting women's right to terminate pregnancies. The organization aims to counter any opposition from groups like It Goes Too Far and Noble Predictive Insights, which have expressed concerns about the potential for unlimited and unregulated abortions in Arizona.
The signatures are currently being verified by county election officials, with results expected by August 22.
