AZ pro-abortion advocates launch effort that can make 'reproductive freedom' a state right: report

09 August 2023

Pro-abortion advocates and groups forming a new coalition called Arizona for Abortion Access announced Tuesday start of an initiative that would ultimately "enshrine abortion rights into Arizona's constitution," NBC reports.

Per NBC, "If approved, the coalition then has until July 3, 2024, to collect about 384,000 valid signatures from registered Arizona voters."

This comes after Ohio voters Tuesday decided against "a closely watched proposal known as Issue 1 that would've made it more difficult to amend the state constitution, delivering a crucial victory to pro-abortion rights supporters ahead of a November vote on enshrining reproductive rights in the Ohio Constitution," according to CBS.

NBC notes, the new effort launched by "American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, NARAL Arizona and several other women's health advocacy groups based in the state," solidifies Arizona as "the latest state where abortion-rights groups have sought to protect reproductive rights through a state constitutional amendment in the 14 months since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade."

Arizona for Abortion Access chair Candace Lew emphasized, "Since the fall of Roe, we have seen our communities come together as a multigenerational and multiracial movement for reproductive freedom to fight for Arizonans' fundamental rights, and this ballot initiative will continue to build on this momentum. Thousands of Arizonans will power this grassroots effort to not only pose this question to voters, but ensure it passes next November."

NBC reports:

Language filed by the coalition Tuesday to the Arizona secretary of state calls for allowing abortions until about the 22nd week of pregnancy. The proposed amendment would 'establish a fundamental right to abortion that the state may not deny, restrict or interfere with' before a physician deems that the fetus is viable — or at about 22 weeks of pregnancy. The language includes exceptions after that point for 'the life and health' of the mother.

Arizona currently permits the procedure "until the 15th week of pregnancy," according to the news outlet, with some "exceptions" such as saving "the life of the mother and for serious medical emergencies."

NBC notes, "Advocates say that the citizen-led ballot initiative process — like the one being employed in Arizona — is a crucial vehicle that offers the ability to reconcile the gap between supportive voter attitudes on abortion and restrictions advanced by GOP-controlled state legislatures."

NBC's full report is available at this link. CBS' report is here.

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