Arizona and Montana have decided to include measures regarding abortion rights on their November election ballots.

On April 17, 2024, members of Arizona for Abortion Access held a press conference and protest at the Arizona House of Representatives, criticizing Arizona House Republicans and the 1864 abortion ban during a legislative recess. This event took place in Phoenix, Arizona, and was covered by Rebecca Noble for Getty Images.

In November, voters in Arizona and Montana will decide on proposals to embed abortion rights in their state constitutions, which could influence the outcomes of the presidential and congressional elections in these states. The Arizona Supreme Court recently ruled that the summary used to gather signatures for the ballot measure was valid, allowing it to move forward. Similarly, Montana’s Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that abortion rights advocates had collected enough signatures to place the measure on the ballot.

These states join six others where abortion rights will be a ballot issue this fall. Arizona, a crucial swing state in the 2024 presidential election, was narrowly won by President Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump in the previous election, contributing to Biden’s Electoral College victory. In Montana, Democratic Senator Jon Tester, who is seeking a fourth term, faces a strong challenge from Republican Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL. A win for Sheehy could help Republicans gain control of the Senate.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had established a federal constitutional right to abortion, allowed states to impose their own abortion restrictions. This ruling, supported by three justices appointed by Trump, was seen as detrimental to Republican congressional candidates’ chances in the 2022 elections. Despite this, abortion rights measures have been approved in seven states, including some conservative ones, where they were previously placed on the ballot.