Arkansas group collects enough signatures for ballot measure blocking abortion ban

An Arkansas organization announced Friday that it has collected more than enough signatures to put a measure on the ballot this year that would guarantee access to abortion up to 18 weeks in the state.

Arkansans for Limited Government said it will turn in more than 100,000 signatures, surpassing the 90,704 needed to put the state constitution amendment on the ballot.

This milestone comes just days after groups in Arizona and Nebraska similarly announced that they had collected enough signatures for measures to ensure abortion access could appear on state ballots.

The proposed measure would amend the Arkansas Constitution to explicitly prohibit the state government from “prohibiting, penalizing, delaying, or restricting abortion services” in any situation up to 18 weeks of pregnancy.

All abortions are currently prohibited in Arkansas except when necessary to save the patient’s life.

“Right now, Arkansas is the most dangerous place in the country to get pregnant. Not only does Arkansas have the highest maternal mortality rate in the country, nearly half of Arkansas’ counties are maternal health care deserts, meaning have no obstetric providers or options for birth care. Arkansas deserves better than this,” said Lauren Cowles, executive director of Arkansas for Limited Government, in a statement.

State constitutional amendments to protect access to abortion could be on the ballot in up to 11 states this year, including Colorado, Missouri and Florida. It has been confirmed that five states will put them to a vote and others are in various stages of advancing similar measures.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story