Arizona takes major step toward repealing near-total abortion ban from 1864 - BBC News

It was the third attempt to take up repealing the near-total ban, which was recently resurrected by a state court.

15 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Arizona Democrat Stephanie Stahl Hamilton led efforts to undo the 1864 banBy Holly Honderichin WashingtonThe Arizona House has voted to repeal a 160-year-old law banning abortion, a major victory for the Democrat-led effort to take the law off the books.

Republicans had thwarted two earlier attempts to vote on ending the law, which bans abortions from conception without exceptions for rape or incest.

Three members of the party, though, broke ranks on Wednesday to vote for repeal in the narrowly-divided house.

The repeal effort will now go to the Senate, with a good chance of passing.

Earlier this month, the state's supreme court resurrected the 1864 law, unleashing an outcry across the country, where voters broadly support abortion access.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68891522

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