- Proposals to enshrine abortion rights in the constitutions of Arizona and Montana will be on those states’ ballots in November.
- This could potentially influence the outcome of the presidential and congressional elections in these states.
- Arizona and Montana join six other states voting on abortion rights measures this fall.
In November, Arizona and Montana will put proposals to enshrine abortion rights in their constitutions on the ballot, potentially influencing the outcome of the presidential and congressional elections in those states.
On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court effectively allowed the proposed ballot measure to go ahead as planned, ruling that the summary used to collect signatures for the measure was valid.
Also on Tuesday, the Montana Secretary of State’s office confirmed that abortion rights advocates had collected enough signatures to put a bill on the ballot.
Arizona and Montana join six other states that will vote on abortion rights measures this fall.
Arizona is considered a crucial swing state in the 2024 presidential election.
Four years ago, President Joe BidenThe Democrats’ narrow victory in Arizona over then-President Donald Trump secured their victory in the Electoral College.
In Montana, incumbent three-term Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat, faces a tough challenge from Republican candidate Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL. If Sheehy defeats Tester, it could help Republicans gain control of the Senate.
In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its 50-year-old ruling in Roe v. Wade, which held that there was a constitutional right to abortion at the federal level.
The decision, supported by three justices nominated by Republican Trump, opened the door for individual states to set their own restrictions on abortion access.
However, this decision has also been accused of damaging the electoral chances of Republican congressional candidates in 2022.
And in seven states where abortion rights were already on the ballot before this year, these measures have also been implemented into law – even in conservative states.
