The campaign must collect nearly 400,000 valid signatures from Arizona voters by July 3, 2024 to qualify for the ballot
PHOENIX, AZ — Today, Arizona for Abortion Access launched its paid and volunteer petition gathering effort to put abortion on the ballot in 2024. The campaign must collect 383,923 valid signatures from Arizona voters by July 3, 2024.
The “Arizona Abortion Access Act” would enshrine the fundamental right to abortion in Arizona’s constitution for generations to come. The amendment is critical to ensure abortion access in the state. In the coming months, the Arizona Supreme Court will hear a case that could fully reinstate a near-total abortion ban from more than a century ago.
At the press conference, several advocates for abortion access shared why they are invested in this campaign for reproductive freedom and signed the first petitions of the campaign.
“We have written this ballot measure because Arizonans deserve the freedom to make our own decisions about pregnancy and abortion,” said Dr. Candace Lew, chair of Arizona for Abortion Access. “These deeply personal decisions should be treated with compassion, dignity, and privacy, not political interference.”
“We are so excited to finally reach this point in our campaign and we are energized knowing that the majority of Arizona voters, no matter how they personally feel about abortion, agree with us — that pregnant people should have the freedom to make decisions about pregnancy and abortion with trusted healthcare providers and without government interference,” said Chris Love, senior advisor to Arizona for Abortion Access.
“In my faith, we believe that human beings have inherent worth and dignity – our first principle – which means, people’s bodies, their needs, and choices matter,” said the Reverend Dr. Samantha Wilson. “They have a say over what happens to their bodies and the choice to reproduce or not. They have agency and conscience.”
“When the Supreme Court overturned 50 years of precedent and ended a fundamental right to essential health care, I found myself regrettably turning away patients showing up for abortion appointments, trying to help staff and colleagues process a reality where we legally weren’t permitted to perform our jobs, and thinking about my own three daughters at home whose future was about to look very different than that which I had imagined,” said Dr. Jill Gibson, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Arizona. “We cannot rely solely on our representatives, our judges, or our officials to protect our health care rights. We cannot and will not rest until we remove barriers to accessing abortion. It falls to us to fight for our communities and safeguard the right to abortion in Arizona. And the first step in the path towards achieving reproductive freedom is this ballot initiative. It’s ensuring abortion is on the ballot and allowing voters to let their voices be heard.”
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Arizona for Abortion Access is a coalition of reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations working to ensure Arizonans can make the decisions that are best for them and their families — free from government interference. This ballot committee is supported by the ACLU of Arizona, Affirm Sexual and Reproductive Health, Arizona List, Healthcare Rising Arizona, Reproductive Freedom for All Arizona, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. Together, these organizations represent hundreds of thousands of Arizonans in every community and from every walk of life.
Paid for by Arizona for Abortion Access, with 8.77% from out-of-state contributors. Not authorized by any candidate.