Arizona State House Lawmakers Vote to Repeal 1864 Abortion Ban
Arizona State House Lawmakers Vote to Repeal 1864 Abortion Ban
In a dramatic turn of events, Arizona state House lawmakers voted on Wednesday to pass a bill that would repeal the near-total ban on abortion from 1864. This marks the third attempt in three weeks to overturn the Civil War-era law that made abortion a felony punishable by prison time.
After a series of votes throughout the afternoon, three state House Republicans joined Democrats in approving the repeal of the longstanding ban. This decision comes after the state Senate also voted in favor of introducing a bill to repeal the ban last week.
The road to full passage of the repeal bill is not immediate, as the state Senate will be required to read the bill on the floor in three separate sessions, delaying the process until next month.
The push to repeal the ban gained momentum following a recent ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court upholding the 160-year-old law. Pressure from Republicans across the country, including former President Donald Trump, also played a role in the decision to revisit the issue of reproductive rights.
Despite previous resistance from GOP lawmakers in the state House, mounting pressure ultimately led to the passage of the repeal bill. The vote came after unsuccessful attempts by Democrats to force a vote in previous sessions.
The repeal of the ban is a significant development in the ongoing debate over abortion rights in Arizona. The law, which was set to go into effect in June, criminalizes abortion with few exceptions. However, efforts are underway to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would establish a “fundamental right” to receive abortion care.
In response to the repeal efforts, Republicans are considering alternative ballot measures to compete with the pro-abortion rights amendment. This has raised concerns among abortion rights supporters about potential efforts to confuse and deceive voters.
The repeal of the 1864 abortion ban represents a pivotal moment in the fight for reproductive rights in Arizona, with the upcoming November ballot likely to shape the future of abortion access in the state.
