Arizona Senate votes to repeal 1864 near-total abortion ban

Arizona’s GOP-led Senate has voted to repeal a Civil War-era abortion ban, following a successful vote in the state’s House. The measure was supported by two Republican senators joining the chamber’s 14 Democrats. The week of April 22, three Republicans joined the 29 Democrats in the state house to vote to repeal the law.

This comes after the Arizona Supreme Court recently ruled the 1864 ban enforceable, overriding a 15-week abortion restriction enacted in 2022.

“I don’t want us honoring laws about women written during a time when women were forbidden from voting because their voices were considered inferior to men,” Democratic State Sen. Eva Burch of Mesa said.

The repeal will take effect 90 days after the current legislative session ends.

The repeal bill now heads to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs for approval who said she will “look forward to quickly signing the repeal into law.”

Once the repeal is signed into law, Arizona’s main abortion regulation would be the 2022 statute that bans the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

“Arizona women should not have to live in a state where politicians make decisions that should be between a woman and her doctor,” Hobbs said. “While this repeal is essential for protecting women’s lives, it is just the beginning of our fight to protect reproductive healthcare.”