The Arizona Senate has voted to repeal the state’s 1864 ban on abortion, a move anticipated to be swiftly signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs.
In a contentious 16-14 vote on Wednesday, the repeal garnered support from two Republican senators, crossing party lines. The measure had previously passed in the Arizona House, propelled by a bipartisan coalition.
Democratic Senator Eva Burch emphasized the importance of discarding outdated legislation, stating, “We’re here to repeal a bad law…written during a time when women were forbidden from voting.”
Republican Senator Wendy Rogers, however, defended the ban, asserting, “Life starts at conception. They got it right in 1864. We need to continue to get it right in 2024.”
The revival of the Civil War-era abortion ban by a state Supreme Court ruling prompted swift legislative action. If signed into law, the repeal would replace the 1864 ban with a statute limiting abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Planned Parenthood Arizona has filed a motion urging the state Supreme Court to prevent a disruption in abortion services until the repeal takes effect.
The 1864 ban, devoid of exceptions for cases of rape or incest, carries stringent criminal penalties for involvement in abortion procedures, underscoring the polarizing debate over reproductive rights in Arizona and nationwide.