The archaic prohibition on virtually all terminations, harking back to the era of the American civil war, is set to be overturned in Arizona as a bill to repeal the law reaches Democrat governor Katie Hobbs.
Governor Hobbs regards this removal, earmarked for formalisation on Thursday, as the commencement of a broader battle for safeguarding reproductive health services within the state. Even so, the revocation might not come into force until around three months following the conclusion of the legislative session, due either in June or July. Those supporting the rights to abortion hope a court intervention could avert this delay.
The repeal motion was approved on Wednesday following a close 16-14 majority in the Senate, with a couple of Republicans siding with Democrats. Discussion surrounding the vote spanned hours, with senators voicing their reasons in a highly personal and emotional manner, referencing religion and abortion procedures in detail, accompanied by sound recordings of foetal heartbeats.
South Dakota abortion rights advocates concurrently submitted an excess of required signatures to enter the ballot later this year. Meanwhile, Florida introduced a ban preventing most abortions after a six-week pregnancy period, often before women realise they are even pregnant.
In opposition to the near-complete ban, the Democratic Arizona attorney general, Kris Mayes, stated the earliest possible enforcement of the abortion ban would be 27th June. However, she has requested the state’s highest court to delay enforcement until late July.
Yet, Alliance Defending Freedom, the pro-life organisation defending the prohibition, insists the law could be implicated as soon as the Supreme Court’s decision is finalised, which has not yet occurred.
This severe prohibition had been in place before Arizona achieved statehood and allows for terminations only to safeguard the life of the woman, excluding any exceptions for rape or incest survivors. As mentioned by the state Supreme Court in a previous month’s ruling, the doctors could face prosecution under the law first instituted in 1864.
If repealed, the resultant Arizona abortion law would be a 2022 statute banning procedures post the fifteenth week of pregnancy.
Discussing the repeal, Phoenix-based obstetrician gynaecologist Ronald Yunis, remarked it was a welcome change for women who might otherwise need to venture outside Arizona for medical assistance.
According to Mr Yunis, the implemented measures will ensure women would no longer need to venture to different states to receive necessary health care. Mr Yunis expressed confidence in the governor and attorney general, assured that they will continue to find means to safeguard women.
Holding the power to determine the subsequent president, Arizona is among a few decisive states. Former president, Donald Trump, acknowledged that the topic might result in setbacks for the Republicans. Although he didn’t give an outright endorsement for a nationwide abortion prohibition, he expressed pride in nominating Supreme Court justices that passed laws permitting states to ban it.
President Joe Biden’s campaigners are of the belief that the rescinding of Roe v Wade will present them with a political leverage in pivotal states, such as Arizona. Conversely, the same issue has proved to be a source of disagreement among the Republican leaders – AP.