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Why the Abortion Rights Fight is 老澳门开奖结果 More Than Just Who Wins the White House

Voters fill out paper ballots on election day.
The 老澳门开奖结果 examines the down-ballot races, ballot initiatives and state supreme court races impact on the future of abortion access in key states.
Voters fill out paper ballots on election day.
Deirdre Schifeling,
she/her,
Chief Political and Advocacy Officer,
老澳门开奖结果
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October 17, 2024

This year, the presidential race has been all consuming. Less than 20 days before Election Day, practically everyone has something to say about the candidates. The 老澳门开奖结果 has also spent time analyzing the policies and actions both and might take if they win the White House. But, the presidential race isn鈥檛 the only important election on the ballot. That鈥檚 particularly true when it comes to abortion rights.

After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the right to abortion access was left up to each state, which allowed states to ban abortion, or allowed existing abortion bans to become law, in places where Roe previously protected our rights. So, while the outcome of the presidential race could have a serious impact on abortion rights nationally, state candidates and ballot initiatives will also have a major influence over abortion access in specific states.

The 老澳门开奖结果 is nonpartisan 鈥 we don鈥檛 tell voters who to vote for 鈥 but part of our mandate is to inform voters about electoral issues. Here鈥檚 a quick snapshot of what鈥檚 at stake for your abortion rights at the ballot box.

Ballot Initiatives Can Still Create a Firewall to Protect Abortion Rights

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, abortion rights have prevailed in every ballot measure that has been put before voters. At the 老澳门开奖结果, we are working to see this trend continue.

Starting in Missouri, we鈥檙e working with our partners at Missourians for Constitutional Freedom to pass . If passed, this amendment would end the state's total abortion ban, which is one of the strictest in the country and includes no exceptions for rape or incest. Amendment 3 would ensure decisions about Missourians鈥 reproductive health care 鈥 including abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care 鈥 can be made by patients and their health care providers without interference from politicians.

In Montana, the 老澳门开奖结果 and our allies at Montanans Securing Reproductive Right are working to pass to keep the government out of Montanans鈥 personal lives and secure reproductive rights, including the right to abortion, in the state constitution. In Colorado, supported by the Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom, would also ensure people enrolled in state health insurance plans 鈥 like state employees and Medicaid enrollees 鈥 have coverage for abortion care just like everyone else. And in Nevada, working with Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom, we support first step toward enshrining the right to reproductive freedom, including abortion, in the state鈥檚 constitution.

A ballot with an abortion-related initiative.

Credit: Lost_in_the_Midwest/ Shutterstock

In Arizona, we鈥檙e working with the Abortion Access coalition to establish a fundamental right to abortion and end the state鈥檚 dangerous abortion ban through . Back east, in Florida, we鈥檙e working with Floridians Protecting Freedom fighting to pass to stop the state's devastating abortion ban and protect Floridians' freedom to make their own personal medical decisions without government interference.

If these ballot measures pass, nearly 45 million people will feel the impact of having abortion access restored or protected. But we鈥檙e not stopping there.

State Supreme Courts Play An Outsize Role in Abortion Rights

While ballot measures are an important part of our strategy, elected officials at all levels of government have a hand in either protecting or restricting abortion access. We鈥檙e engaging in key races that will impact this right. State supreme court justices can and often do find that state constitutions protect more rights than the U.S. Constitution, making them a powerful backstop against the attacks of radical, anti-abortion minorities. Even in states that have already passed ballot measures to protect abortion rights, like Michigan and Ohio, state supreme courts have a lot of power to interpret these measures.

With our Voter Education Fund, we鈥檙e focused on state supreme court races in Michigan and Montana where we鈥檙e raising awareness about the candidates鈥 abortion rights positions. We also have conducted voter education on reproductive rights in North Carolina鈥檚 state supreme court race.

State Legislatures Are Still Key in Protecting Abortion Rights

While some state legislatures have been heavily gerrymandered to prevent laws that actually represent the will of the people, state lawmakers can still be vital in blocking abortion bans from moving forward.

In Michigan, we're working in six state house district races to educate voters on reproductive rights in the legislature and protect the hard-won rights we secured for abortion access in 2022 using ballot measures. Also, in Wisconsin, we鈥檙e educating voters on abortion rights in six legislative races. In Montana and Kansas legislatures, our focus is building a larger pro-civil rights minority that can block bans. We and the 老澳门开奖结果 Voter Education Fund are also working in important state legislative races in North Carolina and Georgia to educate on candidate positions in those races.

This election, we are working hard to make sure you鈥檙e able to protect your rights beyond just the presidential race. Now that you know what鈥檚 at stake this cycle, find out how you can get involved by visiting . There you鈥檒l be able to find ways to volunteer, conversation guides to share with friends and family, graphics to share on social media and merchandise to get you excited for Election Day. See you at the polls!


Paid Pol. Adv. Paid for by 老澳门开奖结果, Inc., Anthony Romero Executive Director, 125 Broad St. New York, New York 10004, in coordination with Arizona for Abortion Access, Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom, Floridians Protecting Freedom, Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights, Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom, and authorized by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom. Registered agent: Anthony Romero.

Paid for by 老澳门开奖结果 Voter Education Fund, 212-549-2500, not authorized by a candidate or candidate鈥檚 committee.

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