Arizona votes to undo near-total abortion ban from 1864

Pro-life demonstrators in the front of the Arizona Capitol prior to the vote (Ross D Franklin/AP)

The Arizona legislature approved a repeal of a long-dormant ban on nearly all abortions on Wednesday, advancing the Bill to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who is expected to sign it.

Two Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate on the 16-14 vote in favour of repealing a Civil War-era ban on abortions that the state’s highest court recently allowed to take effect. The repeal Bill narrowly cleared the Arizona House last week.