A measure guaranteeing abortion rights in Arizona could come to a vote in November, after its supporters said Wednesday they have submitted more than double the number of signatures needed for a ballot initiative.
Meanwhile, in Nebraska, two competing measures could also be on the ballot after abortion opponents and abortion rights supporters said they had submitted enough signatures.
One measure would ban abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy, while the other would protect access to abortion until fetal viability, generally around 24 weeks. Abortion is currently prohibited after 12 weeks.
So far, Nebraska is the only state that could have an anti-abortion measure on the ballot.
Abortion rights activists are working to get amendments on the ballot in as many red and purple states as possible, and Nebraska and Arizona are among 11 states that could receive ballot measures.
Arizona for Abortion Access submitted 823,685 signatures, which they say represents one in five Arizona voters.
Arizona is a swing state and having an abortion rights issue on the ballot could energize Democratic voters in November.
“This is the largest number of signatures ever collected for a ballot measure in Arizona history, which is a testament to the broad support among Arizona voters for restoring and protecting abortion access in Arizona,” said Cheryl Bruce, manager of Arizona campaign for Abortion Access, in a statement.
Abortion is prohibited after 15 weeks of pregnancy in Arizona, with exceptions for the life of the mother – but not rape or incest.
The state Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the abortion ban passed in 1864 is enforceable, but a series of court orders delayed implementation until September 27.
The GOP-controlled legislature narrowly repealed the law in May after a massive nationwide backlash, but the law can only take effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session, which this year was June 15. a chance to take effect.
In Nebraska, voters could potentially face two competing abortion ballot measures in November. A coalition called Protect Our Rights, which is working to put a measure on the ballot that would enshrine the right to abortion in the state Constitution, announced on X which had submitted 207,000 signatures.
Meanwhile, the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America announced that a different coalition, Protect Women & Children, submitted more than 205,000 signatures. His measure would codify the current 12-week ban in the state constitution.
Ballot measures in Nebraska need about 10% of all voters in the state, or about 123,000 valid signatures, to qualify.
Caroline Vakil contributed
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
