Share this @internewscast.com

PHOENIX — Groups working to put reproductive rights in Arizona’s state constitution say they have exceeded the signature threshold to put a constitutional amendment on abortion on the state’s ballot in November. 

Arizona for Abortion Access, a coalition of reproductive rights organizations including the ACLU of Arizona and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, says it had gathered 506,892 petition signatures as of this past weekend, with more than three months to go until the July 3 deadline to submit the signatures to Arizona’s secretary of state. The threshold to put a measure on the ballot is 383,923 signatures, and while some typically get invalidated in the verification process, the amendment appears on track to go before voters this fall.

“This is an issue that people are eager to see on the ballot,” said Cheryl Bruce, the campaign manager for Arizona for Abortion Access. “As our volunteers are out collecting, people are coming up to them, folks are coming up to them and wanting to sign this petition,” said Bruce. “They want to see access to abortion restored in the state of Arizona,” she added. 

Having the issue on the ballot alongside President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump this fall will elevate a key plank in the Democratic platform in a major battleground state. The Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade and putting states in control of abortion policy has been a major part of Democratic campaigns.

Biden won Arizona by 0.3 percentage points four years ago. It is the closest swing state from 2020 that appears likely to have an abortion ballot measure before voters this fall. On Monday, Florida’s state Supreme Court approved a similar November ballot measure there, while also upholding the state’s current limits on abortion. Trump won Florida by 3.4 points in 2020.

The constitutional amendment that Arizona for Abortion Access is putting forward would create a “fundamental right” to receive abortion care up until fetal viability, or about the 24th week of pregnancy, with exceptions after that point if a health care professional decides it’s needed to “protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual.” Opponents of the measure have focused on the potentially broad application of the mental health exception, arguing that it would make it far too easy to end viable pregnancies.Under current Arizona law, abortion is legal up until the 15th week of pregnancy, with an exception after that to save the mother’s life and no exceptions after that point for rape or incest.

Cindy Dahlgren, a spokesperson for the It Goes Too Far campaign opposing the Arizona ballot measure, blasted the proposed amendment as overly broad in a statement that could be a preview of the messaging ahead of this fall’s election.

“Unfortunately, most voters are not told that under the unregulated, unlimited abortion amendment they will lose the required medical doctor, critical and common sense safety standards for girls and women seeking abortion, and moms and dads will be shut out of their minor daughter’s abortion decision, leaving her to go through the painful and scary process alone,” Dahlgren said.

Also looming over the abortion ballot battle is a state Supreme Court decision, which could drop at any moment, over an 1864 abortion ban that’s still on the books. That law has not been in effect since before Roe v. Wade, but it made performing or helping a woman obtain abortion care a felony punishable by two to five years in prison.

The uncertainty surrounding abortion rights in the state has led to an influx of volunteers donating their time and energy to Arizona for Abortion Access to gather signatures. Chris Love, a spokeswoman for the campaign, says the group has assembled over 3,000 volunteers.

One of those volunteers is Toby Urvater, a 62-year-old retiree who’s spending her free time gathering signatures outside small businesses in downtown Phoenix.

“I became a notary specifically for this referendum,” said Urvater, a Phoenix native. “I have grown up with Roe v. Wade,” she said. “It feels devastating to know that people across the country in some states do not have that choice anymore.” 

Deborah Nye, 75, is another volunteer gathering signatures for Arizona for Abortion Access. She got pregnant in high school, pre-Roe v. Wade, and made the difficult decision to have an illegal abortion at the time. 

“I ended up having an illegal abortion, I risked my life to do that. And I think it’s really sad that anybody should be put in that situation,” said Nye, recalling her teenage experience. 

Nye, a mother, says the thought of her daughter losing the right to have an abortion is what fuels her to gather more signatures. 

“My daughter is always in my mind when I’m doing this because she’s in her reproductive years right now. And I would never want her to be in the situation that I was in as a young woman,” Nye said.

While the organization isn’t stopping at half a million signatures, opponents of abortion rights tell NBC News that they have lawyers on retainer ready to scrutinize each and every signature Arizona For Abortion Access turns in. 

“Our goal is still 800,000,” Bruce said of her organization’s aim to more than double the number of valid signatures required to be turned in come July, adding: “All of our circulators are highly trained … and are all being very diligent in the way in which they are collecting signatures to make sure that we are well prepared to withstand any legal challenge the opposition plans to throw our way.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump, Eric Trump, and two other people posing for a photo.

Ivanka Trump’s Heartwarming Support for Sister Tiffany as Her First Baby’s Due Date Approaches, and How Dad Donald is Aiding His Youngest Daughter

TIFFANY Trump is feeling the love as she prepares to welcome a…
Grant Park street closures to go into effect Thursday for Chase Corporate Challenge

Street Closures in Grant Park Begin Thursday for Chase Corporate Challenge

CHICAGO (WLS) — Street closures will go into effect around Grant Park…
A collector's dream NYC pad 'sells in a day' for $9M cash

Collector’s Dream NYC Apartment Sold in One Day for $9M Cash

Alexander Zweig, a business visionary, collector, and angel investor — also the…
Pet raccoon caught with meth pipe in its mouth when cops pulled over Ohio woman: 'Expect the unexpected'

Ohio Woman Pulled Over; Police Discover Pet Raccoon with Meth Pipe: ‘Prepare for Surprises’

During a routine traffic stop in Ohio, police officers encountered an unusual…
Village of Tejeda in Gran Canaria, Spain, nestled in a mountain valley.

Woman’s Body Discovered on Gran Canaria Beach After Sending ‘Party’ Text

In a shocking discovery, the dismembered body of a woman was found…

Cardinals Convene in Confidential Conclave to Start Time-Honored Process of Choosing a New Pope Following Francis’ Passing

CARDINALS are gathering in the Sistine Chapel today to take part in…
Label for Yellowstone Brown Sugar Molasses Baked Beans; product recall information included.

Walmart Recalls ‘Contaminated’ Kitchen Staple Due to Hidden ‘Life-Threatening’ Ingredient

CANS of beans sold across 23 states have been recalled over fears…
Illustration of the Sea Zero, a zero-emission cruise ship with retractable solar sails.

Unveiling the Astonishing Design for the World’s Tallest Cruise Ship Featuring Massive 164ft Sails, Set to Launch by 2030

NEW plans for the world’s tallest cruise ship have been released –…
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clash with security guards at Columbia University

Pro-Palestinian Protesters Confront Security Personnel at Columbia University

NEW YORK (AP) — On Wednesday, masked pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with security…
Longtime ABC7 Chicago courtroom artist Andy Austin, with sketches from Gacy to Blagojevich, dead at 89

Renowned ABC7 Chicago Courtroom Artist Andy Austin, Famous for Sketching Gacy to Blagojevich, Passes Away at 89

CHICAGO (WLS) — Longtime courtroom sketch artist Andy Austin has died. She…
Student Linked to Vile Antisemitic Sign at Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy's Bar Plays Victim Card

Student Associated with Antisemitic Incident at Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy’s Bar Claims Victimhood

Whether you’re a fan of Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy or not…
Idaho police say truck crossed line before causing deadly tour van collision near Yellowstone National Park

Truck veers off course, leading to fatal collision with tour van near Yellowstone, Idaho police report

The investigation into a deadly accident near Yellowstone National Park has revealed…