Developments in Arizona this week highlighted the significant role that abortion will play in the 2024 elections in the United States. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, 14 states are currently enforcing bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with two more enforcing bans after about six weeks. Recent court rulings are expected to increase these numbers in the coming weeks.
As most Democratic states have implemented laws and executive orders to protect abortion access, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled this week that enforcement of a ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy can begin soon in the state. This decision overturned a previous ruling that allowed abortion during the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. The stricter ban is expected to lead women to seek abortion care in neighboring states, sparking immediate fallout and calls for repeal from Democrats.
Although GOP lawmakers in Arizona blocked the discussion of repealing the ban, voters may have a direct say in the matter in November. A movement in the state is seeking to approve a constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights, with organizers already exceeding the required number of signatures. Similar ballot measures are also being considered in other states, including Maryland, New York, and Florida, where a ban on abortions after six weeks was recently approved.
Abortion access has become a key issue for presidential candidates, with President Joe Biden and other Democrats making it a central part of their campaigns. Biden recently launched an ad campaign in Arizona blaming former President Donald Trump for appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. Trump, on the other hand, has declined to endorse a federal ban on abortion, stating that it should be left up to the states. The issue of abortion is also being debated in courts across the country, including in Iowa where a ban on abortion after six weeks is being challenged.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the limits of state bans on abortion throughout pregnancy, as well as on the approval of drugs used in medical abortions. With most U.S. abortions now obtained through pills rather than surgery, these decisions could have a significant impact on abortion access nationwide. As the issue continues to be debated in courts, legislatures, and on the campaign trail, it is clear that abortion will remain a divisive and critical issue in the upcoming 2024 elections in the United States.
