PHOENIX — Proposition 139, known as the "Right to Abortion Initiative," would amend the state constitution in Arizona and establish that every person in Arizona has the "fundamental right to abortion." It would also establish that the state of Arizona is not allowed to interfere with that right to abortion before the point of "fetal viability," Ballotpedia explains.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Propuesta 139: Explicación sobre la ‘Iniciativa de Derecho al Aborto’
"The point in the pregnancy when, in the good-faith judgment of a treating health care professional, the fetus has a significant likelihood of survival outside the uterus."
The ballot measure also states that the State will not be able to penalize any person, such as a doctor providing abortions, aiding or assisting pregnant individuals in exercising their right to an abortion, if the proposition is passed.
What happens if you vote "yes" on Prop. 139?
A "yes" vote means you are voting to create a fundamental right to abortion under Arizona's constitution, according to Arizona's Secretary of State.
What happens if you vote "no" on Prop. 139?
A "no" vote means you are voting not to create a fundamental right to an abortion under Arizona's constitution, according Arizona's Secretary of State.
This also means a "no" vote will leave in place the current laws that restrict abortions before fetal viability and will allow the State to further restrict or ban access to abortions in the future.
What is the current law regarding abortion?
Right now, people who wish to have an abortion can legally do so up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. This has been the law since April of 2024 when the Arizona Supreme Court upheld a law enacted in 1864 that prohibited abortion in most circumstances except to save the life of the pregnant person.
The law also orders individuals who provide, supply, or administer abortions or medicine, drugs or substances that induce miscarriages, unless it necessary to save the person's life, to be prosecuted, according to Ballotpedia.
Are any other states voting on similar propositions?
According to Ballotpedia, there are multiple states that have abortion-related measures on the 2024 ballot, including:
- Colorado
- Florida
- Maryland
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New York
- Nevada
- South Dakota
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Decision 2024
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