Arizona takes a significant step in lifting the 1864 almost complete abortion prohibition

To lift the 1864 prohibition, Arizona Democrat Stephanie Stahl Hamilton spearheaded efforts.

In a significant win for the Democratic-led campaign to remove the abortion prohibition off the books, the Arizona House voted to abolish the 160-year-old statute.

Republicans have blocked two previous efforts to put the bill, which forbids abortions from conception except in cases of rape or incest, to a vote.

On Wednesday, however, three party members disregarded their colleagues and voted in favor of repeal in the sharply split chamber.

Now that it is in the senate, there is a strong likelihood that the law will pass.

Two Republican senators voted last week to forward a measure along similar lines. That implies that the repeal can pass the Senate with sufficient Republican backing.

Democratic governor of Arizona, Katie Hobbs, has said she would sign the law should it make it to her desk.

Legislators who oppose the ban are under deadline pressure since it is set to reappear in June.

The one-sentence repeal bill's sponsor, House Representative Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, said, "The people of Arizona are waiting for us to get this done."

The state's top court revived the 1864 statute earlier this month, sparking a national outrage in which the majority of citizens favor access to abortion.

Republicans, who face defeat in the general elections in November due to the reversal of the national right to an abortion by the US Supreme Court in 2022, found themselves in a difficult political position as a result of the ban.

Republicans who have opposed the ban and advocated for compromise include former president Donald Trump.

Others have supported it, such as Speaker of the Arizona House Ben Toma.

During last week's house floor session, Mr. Toma said, "Some of us believe that abortion is in fact the murder of children."

Three Republicans voted with Democrats on Wednesday, including legislator Matt Gress, who said in a statement that the ban was "unworkable" and "out of line with the values of Arizonans."

Mr. Toma allegedly kicked Mr. Gress out of the appropriations committee shortly after the vote.

The 1864 prohibition will probably go into force on June 8 if the Senate's repeal attempt fails.

The existing 15-week abortion prohibition in Arizona would still be in effect if the ban were to be removed.

But, a ballot measure that seeks to preserve the right to an abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy may provide Arizonans another opportunity to voice their opinions. According to activists, they have already gathered enough signatures to present the issue to voters in the next fall.