In Arizona, fetus will be referred to as “unborn human being” on ballots in abortion referendum

The Supreme Court of the US state of Arizona has ruled that a fetus will be referred to as an “unborn human being” on ballots in a referendum on abortion rights scheduled for November, according to a decision made public Thursday, August 15. The local referendum could allow women to have an abortion up to 24 weeks into their pregnancy, compared to the current 15. There would also be exceptions for “protect life or physical or mental health” of the pregnant woman.

However, it was the choice of words used by the Republican parliamentary majority that attracted the attention of the American press, including Washington Post, who broke the news Wednesday night. Instead of voting on the rights of “fetuses,” voters will be asked whether they are for or against abortions for women carrying “unborn human beings.” The local Supreme Court has approved.

Abortion rights are also one of the central issues in the campaign for the November 5 presidential election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, especially since its federal protection was shattered in June 2022 by a historic decision of the Supreme Court, with a conservative majority. Arizona, with a Republican-majority Congress and a Democratic governor, is one of the pivotal states likely to swing the presidential election: Joe Biden beat Donald Trump there by just 10,000 votes in 2020.