mobilization of voters in favor of the right to abortion

First modification: 09/11/2022 – 14:47

There is no Republican red wave in sight in Congress, or in the House of Representatives, where Democrats will lose their majority – but losing fewer seats than expected -, or in the Senate, where Democrats also seem to limit the damage with very adjusted. But the issue of abortion rights, which took a backseat to inflation late in the campaign, may have re-mobilized at least some Democratic voters, and even some Republicans.

This is particularly evident in responses to questions at the polls posed to voters in five states about access to abortion. In traditionally blue and Democratic states, such as California and Vermont, voters approved the inclusion of abortion rights in the state constitution. The same thing happened in Michigan, a pendulum state and, therefore, not necessarily progressive, where Republicans hoped to reapply a law from the 1930s that totally prohibits abortion, except in cases of danger to the life of the mother. Also in this case, 53% of voters voted in favor of enshrining this right in the Constitution.

More surprisingly, traditionally red and conservative states like Montana and Kentucky also rejected measures that were intended to restrict access to abortion.

In addition to these referendums, outspoken pro-choice figures were elected governors of Wisconsin, Michigan, two major states. Planned Parenthood programs are delighted: in the end, the entire Midwest came out clearly in favor of protecting abortion. A strong campaign issue for the Democrats. Perhaps that is what mobilized their base, especially women, in these midterm elections, to a greater extent than expected.

Joe Biden’s Promise

It must be remembered that Joe Biden has promised, if he retains a majority in Congress, to pass legislation that transcribes the legacy of the old Roe vs. Wave, which was annulled by the Supreme Court last June. In a nutshell, it would be about legalizing the right to abortion throughout the country up to the fifth month of pregnancy. However, we must be careful with this point, there are many dissensions in the Senate among the Democrats on the scope of this right to abortion. In addition, the Republicans can gain a majority in the House of Representatives.

What is Roe v Wade?

It is one of the most important decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States. This jurisprudence, dating from 1973, is the one that recognizes the right to abortion at the federal level, in the name of respect for privacy.

It takes its name from the case of “Jane Roe”, whose real name was Norma McCorvey, against Texas defense attorney Henry Wade. Pregnant for the third time at age 21, the young Texan wanted to have an abortion, but the laws of her state prohibited it. She took her case to the highest court in the land, which ruled that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution protects a woman’s right to control her own body.

Since this decision, many states have tried to circumvent this case law with new laws. Although they cannot directly prohibit abortion, they can require spousal or parental consent in the case of minors. Or they can reduce the time during which the mother can have an abortion, as is currently the case in Texas.

For women, the freedom to dispose of their bodies

For decades, Atlanta’s affluent suburbs were Republican strongholds. But some young, white women cast their votes in 2020 for Joe Biden, who won Georgia by just 12,000 ballots.

Raquel Harris, who lives in Sandy Springs, cast her vote again for the Democratic candidates: “I get chills when I think about what’s at stake right now,” she tells our special envoy Stefanie Schuler. “My ability as a woman to decide about my own body is at stake here in the United States. We live in a time of fear. We had the right to abortion and they have taken it away from us. This arouses strong emotions in me. I feel like we’re going back 100 years and that scares me. Who will be next? Gay rights? We are like trapped in a hole. We are limiting personal freedoms,” she deplores.

For Raquel Harris, it is especially ironic to hear Republicans dedicate themselves to demanding more freedom: “By taking away our freedoms, it’s like putting a foot on the back of our necks. That’s why I think there should be an age limit for our representatives, whether it’s the Senate or the presidency. But in the long run, these old politicians will end up dying. The younger voices will be, I hope, more progressive and more open to diversity, to dialogue, than the old ideology, “confident Harris.