PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona abortion-rights supporters said Wednesday that they turned in more than double the signatures needed to put the issue on November’s ballot in the key swing state. In Nebraska, organizers of competing abortion measures said that they collected enough signatures to go to voters. That would make Nebraska the only state where an abortion-restricting measure could be on the November ballot Arizona organizers say they submitted 823,685 signatures, far above the 383,923 required from registered voters.
The measure would add an amendment to the state constitution providing a fundamental right to an abortion. County election officials have until Aug. 22 to verify whether enough of the petition signatures are valid and provide results to the Arizona secretary of state’s office.
Democrats have made abortion rights a central message since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v.
Wade in 2022 and it is a key part of their efforts in this year’s elections. Activists in Arkansas also plan to submit signatures this week for an abortion ballot measure. In five other states , the issue already is set to go before voters this year: Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada and South Dakota.
Arizona currently has a 15-week abortion ban. The proposed amendment would allow abortions until a fetus could survive outside the womb, typically around 24 weeks, with exceptions to save the mother’s life or to protect her physical or mental health. It would restrict the state fro.