Abortion measures may be on November ballots in Arizona, Nebraska

Pro-abortion activists in both Arizona and Nebraska have submitted petitions for signature review to place constitutional amendment proposals on the states' November ballots.

In Arizona, a petition for a ballot measure that would provide a state constitutional right to an abortion received a total of 823,685 signatures, more than double the required 383,923 signatures from registered voters, the Associated Press reported.

Arizona for Abortion Access, which includes the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and Planned Parenthood of Arizona, said the petition had received the most signatures ever in the state's history for a citizens initiative.

“That was our goal from the get-go,” Arizona for Abortion Access spokesperson Dawn Penich said. “We started collecting signatures in September and October 2023 and saw how passionate people are about this issue.”

Aug. 22 is the deadline for county officials to verify the signatures and send them to the Arizona secretary of state’s office.

Arizona has a 15-week abortion ban, with requirements for an ultrasound before the abortion and parental consent for minors, and exceptions for medical emergencies.

The proposed amendment would permit abortions until the fetus can survive outside the womb, around 24 weeks, and would include exceptions for saving the mother's life or protecting her mental or physical health.

In Nebraska, two competing proposed constitutional amendments may end up on the November ballot.

Protect Our Rights submitted 207,000 signatures for review for a ballot measure that would create a state constitutional right to an abortion.

Meanwhile, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America submitted 205,000 signatures to add Nebraska's 12-week abortion ban to the state constitution.

The state requires either around 123,000 valid signatures or 10% of registered voters in the state to be submitted for proposed ballot measures.