Current Events > Abortion now banned in Arizona, but will be on state ballot

(+) Yeah! (+)

Dumbest fucking move ever to do this in a purple state during an election year.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2024/04/09/arizona-abortion-law-state-supreme-court-upholds-near-total-ban/73251148007/

The Arizona Supreme Court upheld a 160-year-old abortion ban that could shutter abortion clinics in the state.

The ruling indicated the ban can only be "prospectively enforced" and enforcement of the law is stayed for 14 days. But it's already causing political earthquakes.

The pre-statehood law mandates two to five years in prison for anyone aiding an abortion, except if the procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother. Enforcement would mean the end of legal abortions in Arizona. A law from the same era requiring at least a year in prison for a woman seeking an abortion was repealed in 2021.

Reproductive rights activists say it means Arizona women can expect potential health complications.

It's unclear just how, or if, the law will be enforced. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs issued an executive order last year giving all power to enforce abortion laws to the state attorney general. The current attorney general, Democrat Kris Mayes, has vowed not to enforce any abortion bans. But her decision and Hobbs' order could be challenged by one of the state's county attorneys.

One immediate effect could be the rise in popularity of a potential ballot measure in the works for this year. Advocates say they've already got more than 500,000 signatures, well above the threshold of 383,923 signatures needed by an early July deadline.

The state Supreme Court's ruling puts a stark choice before voters: Choose the new reproductive rights measure or watch abortion policy turn back to the 19th century.

That black-and-white choice, as well as an anticipated increase in turnout by Democrats because of the ballot measure, could also affect races in the state Legislature or other offices.

Seriously, I cant see how this doesnt move Arizona to Biden. Abortion on the ballots wins in red states like Kansas and Ohio. What chance do the Republicans have at winning this in a swing state they desperately need to win in November?