Factbox-Abortion rights advocates eye more statewide victories in 2024
By Joseph Ax
(Reuters) -Abortion rights advocates are looking to extend their winning streak this year, with efforts underway to place the issue before voters in November's election in nearly a dozen states.
The list includes swing states such as Arizona, Nevada and Florida, which are all expected to play a crucial role in the presidential contest that will headline November's ballot.
Abortion has become a galvanizing issue for Democrats and a political liability for Republicans. Since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated a nationwide right to abortion in 2022, seven states have voted in favor of abortion access, including conservative strongholds like Ohio and Kansas.
The issue was widely credited with forestalling a Republican wave in 2022, as well as propelling Democrats to victories in Kentucky and Virginia last year. It is expected to be a dominant theme in this year's presidential race and other political campaigns.
Here are the states where abortion could be on the ballot:
ARIZONA
Arizona for Abortion Access, a coalition of reproductive rights groups, has collected more than 250,000 of the approximately 384,000 signatures needed by July to put a measure on November's ballot that would guarantee abortion rights, according to a spokesperson, Chris Love.
If approved, the referendum would amend the state constitution to protect abortion rights up to fetal viability, generally around 23 or 24 weeks.
Abortions are banned after 15 weeks of pregnancy in Arizona.
Arizona is expected once again to be a presidential battleground, and it will also see one of the country's most competitive U.S. Senate races.
FLORIDA
Floridians Protecting Freedom, a coalition of reproductive rights groups, has already gathered more than 900,000
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