In a significant turn of events, lawmakers in the Arizona state House successfully voted to pass a bill that would repeal the near-total ban on abortion from 1864. This repeal comes after the state's Supreme Court upheld the ban earlier this month, sparking a heated debate on reproductive rights in the battleground state.

After multiple attempts, three state House Republicans joined Democrats in approving the repeal of the Civil War-era law that made abortion a felony punishable by two to five years in prison for anyone involved. The state Senate also showed support for the motion to introduce a repeal bill, with two Republicans joining every Democrat in the chamber.

The state Senate is expected to vote on the repeal as early as next Wednesday, after which Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs is likely to sign it swiftly. The passage of the repeal has garnered praise from abortion rights supporters and Democrats, including the White House.

Former President Donald Trump and Republicans across the country had called for the repeal of the ban following the Supreme Court's decision. However, Arizona state House Republicans had resisted advancing a repeal bill until now. Amid mounting pressure, three GOP lawmakers finally joined Democrats in approving the repeal.

Republican opponents of the repeal expressed their disappointment, claiming that the bill had been rushed through the legislative process. However, Democrats viewed this as a positive step forward and applauded the Republican lawmakers who supported the repeal.

This latest development marks the latest chapter in the ongoing fight over abortion rights in Arizona, following the bombshell ruling by the conservative-leaning state Supreme Court. The law in question, which is set to go into effect on June 8, makes abortion a felony but includes an exception to save the woman's life.

Despite the efforts to repeal the law, voters may have the final say on the future of abortion rights in the state. Organizers are working towards placing a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot, which would establish a "fundamental right" to receive abortion care up until the 24th week of pregnancy.

While the repeal of the 160-year-old ban is significant progress, Republicans are exploring alternative measures to potentially counter the proposed constitutional amendment. Leaked documents reveal discussions on pushing anti-abortion measures to compete with the pro-abortion rights amendment.

This ongoing battle highlights the divisive nature of the abortion debate and the importance of voter participation in shaping the future of reproductive rights in Arizona.