Activists in Arizona and Nebraska on Wednesday filed petitions for amendments that would enshrine the right to abortion into their state constitutions.
Activists in both states have submitted more than the number of signatures needed to appear on the November ballot, the Associated Press reported. reportElection officials in both states must certify the signatures before they can be officially presented before voters.
Promoting abortion access in Arizona — Union Groups including the ACLU of Arizona, Affirm Sexual and Reproductive Health, Arizona List, Healthcare Rising Arizona, NARAL Arizona and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona announced they had submitted 823,685 signatures, well above the eligibility requirement of 383,923.
of Proposed amendments Amends the Arizona Constitution to declare that “every individual has the fundamental right to an abortion” and prohibits the state from:
Deny, restrict, or interfere with the rights of the unborn child prior to viability unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.
Refusing, restricting, or obstructing an abortion after fetal viability that the treating health professional determines in good faith is necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.
It punishes any individual or entity who aids or assists a pregnant individual in exercising her right to an abortion as provided in this section.
Arizona currently restricts abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy, the time when a fetus is believed to be capable of feeling pain.
Arizona Supreme Court approved Arizona’s near-total ban on abortion, dating back to 1864, was set to go into effect in April after the 15-week limit was lifted, but Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs quickly signed the bill into law.Peel off The law went into effect on May 2nd.
In Nebraska,The “Protect Our Rights” coalition, supported by groups including the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska and Planned Parenthood of Nebraska, announced it had collected 207,000 signatures, more than the 123,000 needed.
of measurement The State Constitution is amended to read as follows:
Everyone has the fundamental right to abortion, without interference from the State or any of its political subdivisions, until the fetus is viable or when necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient. Viability refers to the point in pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the medical practitioners treating the patient, the fetus is likely to survive sustained outside the womb without the need for special medical measures.
Republican Governor of Nebraska Jim Pilen Signed A bill due to be introduced in May 2023 would restrict abortions at 12 weeks of pregnancy and make “gender reassignment care” for minors illegal. Prior to the 12-week limit, Nebraska limited abortions to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Abortion issues could be competing on Nebraska’s November ballot. Organizers of a competing petition drive, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said they had submitted more than 205,000 signatures, according to the Associated Press. The bill would enshrine Nebraska’s current 12-week limit in the state constitution.
Arkansas activists are facing a Friday deadline to submit the necessary signatures for an abortion bill.
“The group behind the bill, Arkansans for Limited Government, said on Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday that it still needs about 5,800 of the 90,704 signatures needed,” the Associated Press reported.
The Arkansas bill It ordered state governments to “ban, penalize, delay, or restrict the provision of abortion services within 18 weeks after fertilization, which is approximately 20 weeks from the first day of a pregnant woman’s last menstrual period.”
amendment It would also allow abortion in cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal abnormality, or “to protect the life of the pregnant woman, or to protect a pregnant woman from physical disability, physical disease, or physical injury.”
Abortion is currently illegal in Arkansas except in medical emergencies to save the pregnant woman’s life.
Overall, left-wing activists in at least 11 states have begun campaigning to put abortion questions on the November ballot, and constitutional amendments are officially on the ballot in six states, including Colorado, South Dakota, Florida, Maryland, Nevada and New York.
Katherine Hamilton is a political reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her on X. Follow.
