Election Day live updates: Trump wins 2024 election after taking Wisconsin: NPR

Abortion rights protesters demonstrate in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 15, 2024. The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on April 9, 2024 that a 160-year-old, near-total abortion ban was enforceable, pushing the issue to the top of the agenda in a key swing state in the U.S. presidential election.

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

Hide caption

Toggle label

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

PHOENIX – Arizonans approved a ballot measure Enshrine abortion rights in the state constitutionaccording to an Associated Press call.

Since 2022, Arizona has had a law banning abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy. Proposition 139 will amend the state constitution to ensure access to abortion until the fetus is viable – about 24 weeks. The measure also allows exceptions for abortions that go beyond the point of feasibility to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.

Opponents described the measure as dangerously far-reaching. They argued that state abortion law already allows enough access because most abortions are performed before 15 weeks of pregnancy, and that current restrictions provide appropriate exceptions for miscarriages and pregnancy-related medical emergencies.

But supporters said so The 15-week law created traumatic obstacles for women who faced complications later in pregnancy and forced some women to leave the state for abortions.

Arizona is one of 10 states where abortion was on the ballot this year.

Several Polls in the run-up to election day suggested the measure had enough support among voters to pass.

“I always felt like we would win once we were on the ballot because our position is really popular,” said Chris Love, a spokesman for the amendment effort.

In order to qualify for the vote, supporters of the citizens' initiative must qualify collected over 800,000 signatures – more than double the required threshold – and raised $32 million – 25 times more than opponents.

Arizona's 15-week abortion law is expected to be repealed once the new constitutional amendment takes effect.

But Arizona has dozens of other laws regulating abortion. There is a mandatory 24-hour waiting period for patients, a law banning abortion medications from being sent by mail, and a requirement that patients have an ultrasound before the procedure, which may be medically unnecessary. These laws are now likely to be challenged in court.

“There will be a lot of litigation to figure out exactly what that means,” said Barbara Atwood, a law professor emeritus at the University of Arizona. “There will be some uncertainty as to which of the existing laws – on informed consent, on waiting periods, on the 15-week law itself – will fall under the new constitutional provision.”