Arizona lawmakers are on the brink of repealing a historic abortion ban that dates back to the time of Abraham Lincoln. The law, which was enacted over a century and a half ago, has sparked intense debate and division within the state.
The expected vote in the Arizona State Senate could mark the end of a long-standing law that has been a focal point of the state’s political landscape. Democrats have been pushing for the repeal, while anti-abortion activists have been fighting to keep the ban in place.
The issue has mobilized Democratic voters and led to a campaign to put an abortion-rights ballot measure before Arizona voters in November. On the other side, Republican politicians are grappling with the potential political fallout of supporting a near-total abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.
The 1864 law, which had been dormant for years, resurfaced as a contentious issue after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Republican-appointed justices of the State Supreme Court ruled that the ban could now be enforced, leading to a heated debate in the state Legislature.
After facing opposition from conservative lawmakers, Democrats were finally able to push a repeal bill through the Arizona House with the support of three Republican members. The bill is now set to be voted on in the State Senate, where it is expected to pass with bipartisan support.
Anti-abortion activists are making a last-ditch effort to sway lawmakers against the repeal, organizing a rally outside the Capitol and planning to pack the public gallery in the State Senate. They fear that Arizona’s actions could set a precedent for other Republican-controlled states to follow suit.
Regardless of the outcome of the vote, Arizona’s abortion laws will still be restricted by other regulations, including a 15-week abortion ban that does not include exceptions for rape or incest. Democrats are urging voters to support a ballot measure that would enshrine abortion rights in the state’s Constitution to prevent future restrictions.
The debate over the 1864 abortion ban has become a focal point in Arizona’s political landscape, with both parties using it as a rallying cry for their respective causes. As the state prepares for a pivotal vote, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for abortion rights across the country.
