Abortion Rights - How Women Really Feel

During this election season in the U.S., topics such as inflation and crime, which are normally at the forefront, were cast aside as abortion became the highest priority for many. This article describes how the topic of abortion and perhaps the loss of that right has affected women all around the country. Irrespective of social class or economic status, abortion is an issue that can apply to all women. During the recent elections in many states, abortion was the cause of a stronger voter turnout. Women, who might not have voted, were more compelled to do so. Abortion was on the ballot in 2022. Urica Carver, a 41-year-old mother from Pennsylvania, and a registered Republican voted completely Democratic. Carver would’ve voted Republican, except she didn’t agree with any of the candidates' abortion policies: “If they didn’t support that right, regardless of who they were, they were not getting my vote.” Carver was thinking about more than herself during this election. She knew that voting Democratic would influence whether her daughters would one day have the right to an abortion. That factor alone drove her to vote against her party.

A Ms. Kopman from California said that “she and almost everyone she knew had previously just accepted abortion as a human right and a fact of life.” She expresses her sadness for having to codify this right into the state’s Constitution. Similarly, voters in Kansas, a red state, “overwhelmingly rejected an attempt to remove abortion rights from their state’s Constitution.”Conversely, voters who were pro-life were more motivated to vote, too. Addy Diaz, a 59-year-old resident of Miami Beach said she was voting Republican because they would protect traditional values: “This is the reason we put these people in power, because they’re pro-life. It’s what we’ve been waiting for a long time.” Voting based solely on the topic of abortion has dangerous implications. While it is a hot-topic issue, it’s certainly not the only problem facing everyday Americans. While understandable in the election, deciding whether to vote Democrat or Republican should not be solely based on one stance alone. Representatives are appointed for several years at a time, meaning once abortion laws are settled, or the country moves on to its next “hot topic,” voters might come to regret their choice. The results from these landmark elections will be felt throughout the country for many more years, specifically through the policy that gets passed. As for individual states that voted differently than normal, future politicians were handed the key to success: taking a strong stance on abortion that aligns with the passionate voters from the state.

By Maina Vaidya

Information from New York Times Article: ‘My Main, Core Issue’: Abortion Was the Driving Force for Many Voters