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Arizona Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative (2022)
| Arizona Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 8, 2022 | |
| Topic Abortion | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin Citizens |
The Arizona Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative was not on the ballot in Arizona as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 8, 2022.
Signatures were due for the ballot initiative on July 7. Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom did not file signatures. The campaign reported that more than 175,000 signatures were collected during the 61 days between filing the proposal and the signature deadline. At least 356,467 valid signatures were required. On Twitter, the campaign stated, "Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom will continue to harness the passion of the movement to ensure the measure qualifies for the 2024 ballot."[1]
Additional information on abortion-related ballot measures
- You can find a list of 2022's certified and proposed measures here: 2022 abortion-related ballot measures.
- Information on abortion-related ballot measures since 1970 is available here: History of abortion ballot measures.
Overview
What will this amendment do?
This amendment would provide a state constitutional right to reproductive freedom in Arizona, which would include but is not limited to the right to make and effectuate decisions regarding "prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management, and infertility care." The measure would also provide a right to a surgical or medical abortion until the point of viability in the pregnancy. Under this measure, viability is defined as "the point in a pregnancy at which ... there is a reasonable likelihood of sustained fetal survival outside the uterus with or without artificial support."
How did the campaigns react to Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization?
On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which held that "The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives."[2] Ballotpedia is tracking abortion-related ballot measure campaigns' responses to the ruling.
Dr. Victoria Fewell, chair of the Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom campaign, said that the ruling would impact reproductive healthcare, and urged support for the Right to Reproductive Freedom initiative. “The Supreme Court’s catastrophic ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is one of the worst in our nation’s history," she said. "The decision will result in violation of the fundamental right of all women to comprehensive reproductive healthcare and privacy. It will have direct, immediate and devastating effects for millions of people across the United States, affecting marginalized women and families disproportionately. We must urgently pass a constitutional amendment that protects access to this vital medical procedure.”[3]
As of June 27, Ballotpedia has not located a statement from opponents of the ballot initiative on the ruling. You can share a campaign statement and URL source with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Text of Measure
Full text
The full text of the ballot measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
Process in Arizona
In Arizona, the number of signatures required to qualify an initiated constitutional amendment for the ballot is equal to 15 percent of votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. Petitions can be circulated for up to 24 months. Signature petitions must be submitted four months prior to the election at which the measure is to appear.
The requirements to get initiated constitutional amendments certified for the 2022 ballot:
- Signatures: 356,467 valid signatures were required.
- Deadline: The deadline to submit signatures was July 7, 2022.
If the secretary of state certifies that enough valid signatures were submitted, the initiative is put on the next general election ballot. The secretary of state verifies the signatures through a random sampling of 5 percent of submitted signatures working in collaboration with county recorders. If the random sampling indicates that valid signatures equal to between 95 percent and 105 percent of the required number were submitted, a full check of all signatures is required. If the random sampling shows fewer signatures, the petition fails. If the random sampling shows more, the initiative is certified for the ballot.
Stages of this ballot initiative
On May 16, Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom filed this initiative. The campaign needed to collect 356,467 signatures, which were due on July 7, 2022.
Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom did not file signatures for the ballot initiative. The campaign reported that more than 175,000 signatures were collected during the 61 days between filing the proposal and the signature deadline.[1]
On Twitter, the campaign stated, "Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom will continue to harness the passion of the movement to ensure the measure qualifies for the 2024 ballot."[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
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