The New York Times reports that since Roe V Wade was overturned, there has been a 35% increase in women registering to vote in the midterm election. This statistic was formed from the ten states that share voter registration data, including the State of Florida. Many, especially women, have been feeling destained about Roe V Wade’s overturning and are now more motivated than ever to vote. The desire for change is palpable across the Country. Although there are many vital issues in the midterm election, many parties are explicitly looking at the hot topic of abortion and how the midterms will impact women’s rights.
Roe V Wade and Florida
On April 14th, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law that abortion is illegal after 15 weeks of pregnancy. A woman can receive an abortion if they are within 15 weeks of the abortion. There is no exception for rape, incest, or human trafficking. The law did allow for an abortion to take place if the mother’s life was at risk or if the fetus had an abnormality.
The second judicial circuit states that the abortion ban violates the state’s constitutional right to privacy. Florida made its decision based on the right to privacy. Meaning that a woman’s right to abortion is a medical concern that does not concern the state.
DeSantis Specific Views On Abortion
While everyone is talking about the topic of abortion, an otherwise loud DeSantis has been oddly quiet. This could be because he wants to implement a new law called the “heartbeat bill.” In his 2018 campaign, DeSantis said that he supported banning abortion when a fetal heartbeat is thought to be detected at six weeks. Because abortion providers in the State of Florida sued, claiming that DeSantis’s new law violated the right to privacy, this decision is now in appeal. This seems like a very calculated move from DeSantis. He is attempting to sweep the issue under the rug and, once elected, is likely to add more restrictions on abortion.
Women Voters Increasing
The United Way reports that it has been statistically shown that women have a slightly higher voter turnout rate than men in both presidential and midterm elections. This means that women hold a lot of power. The question remaining is how many women will turn out to vote and for which party?
We are seeing a more significant number of young women taking to the polls because of abortion. It has been found that abortion has been a major motivating factor for the increase in women that will be voting this year. The Kaiser Family Foundation is reporting that “The Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade is continuing to motivate some voters as half of the voters (50%) now say the Court’s decision has made them more motivated to vote, up from 43% who said the same in July and an increase of 13 percentage points from a similar question in May.” “Overall, four in ten voters say their state’s abortion laws have made them more motivated to vote.”
Are Women Actually Shifting Their Vote?
A recent Wall Street Journal poll indicated that “white suburban women” have shifted their support to Republicans. The article stated that “suburban white women” are now less concerned about abortion and more concerned about the economy. With that being said the wall street journal reported that these women find that republicans are better suited to change the economy than democrats, and that is why they have changed their votes. Sunny Houstin, from The View, was quoted saying, “they are voting against their own interests.”
Abortion Shouldn’t be a Political Issue
Women changing their vote shows why it’s crucial to consider all the issues. Because abortion is such a big issue, other essential topics fall by the wayside. No one should have to choose between healthcare and what they view politically. It just does not make sense.
If we keep abortion a political issue, we might never be able to make accurate decisions on political issues. When you mix in matters unrelated to politics, it can all get too convoluted. Ironically, this midterm holds so much power in what will happen to some states on the issue of abortion. When the government should have no hand in healthcare, and abortion is healthcare. It is imperative that those who are pro-choice vote tomorrow.
Social Media
Social media has once again made its point in a comedic manner. Many campaigns have been posted where women ask men simple questions about women. Most of the time, men get the questions wrong. This is to point out that we should not have male-dominated ideologies in our political system when they need more of a clue about women and their needs.
Where To Vote?
The most important thing you can do is to get out and vote. It is true that every vote matters, and if you want something to change, you must take steps to do so. If you still need to vote, you can vote on election day, Tuesday, November 8th, 2022. You can find your appropriate poll location by going to rockthevote.com. Also, make sure you are registered to vote beforehand; if not, double-check if the poll you attend allows same-day registration.
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