Arizona will have two referendums on the ballot in November, giving voters the opportunity to empower law enforcement to arrest and deport illegal immigrants and enshrine the right to abortion into the Arizona Constitution.
The Arizona Abortion Access Act was approved on Monday, with Secretary of State Adrian Fontes claiming the number of valid signatures broke the state’s previous record in remarks delivered to the press.
According to the text approved for the referendum, the Arizona Abortion Access Act would prohibit any legislation meant to “deny, restrict or interfere” with an abortion before a fetus is determined to be viable outside of the womb.
The Secure the Border Act was previously passed by Arizona lawmakers, but was vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs. It was after that veto when lawmakers voted in June to bring it before Arizona voters in a referendum, arguing the electorate should decide whether Arizona law enforcement should fill gaps left by federal law enforcement under the Biden-Harris administration.
In addition to allowing state and local law enforcement to arrest and deport illegal immigrants, the legislation seeks to strengthen E-Verify, impose additional penalties to those convicted of dealing fentanyl and prevent illegal immigrants from using Arizona’s welfare programs.
At least one border sheriff supported the referendum. Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels endorsed the legislation in May despite initial concerns over the financial burden it might impose on local law enforcement.
“The reason we’re even discussing that at a state level, the reason we’re trying to intervene at a state level, is because the federal government has abandoned us,” said Dannels. “I hate to be so cold with that but it’s true.”
It remains to be seen what impact the referendums could have on voter turnout, but a June poll reportedly found 60 percent of female voters said they would be more likely to vote if the opportunity to enshrine abortion access into the Arizona Constitution was on the ballot.
Former President Donald Trump currently holds a slim, 1.5 percent lead against Vice President Kamala Harris in Arizona, according to the aggregate of head-to-head surveys by RealClearPolling.
The polling aggregate found that Trump’s lead increased to 2 percent with the addition of third-party and independent presidential candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Pro-Choice Supporters” by Fibonacci Blue. CC BY 2.0.
