A woman votes in Somerville, Mass., on the evening of the 2022 midterm elections. (Carlin Stiehl / The Boston Globe via Getty Images) |
BY ROXY SZAL | Abortion and the Equal Rights Amendment are strong voter turnout issues separately, but even more powerful when combined, according to a new national poll by Lake Research Partners for Ms. and the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF), publisher of Ms.
In particular, candidates talking about abortion and the ERA together is a powerful combination to mobilize Democrats and Independents (especially Independent women), younger women, voters who support abortion rights, college-educated women, Latinas and Black voters, and voters ages 30-39.
Almost three-quarters (74 percent) of all voters support a person’s right to make their own reproductive decisions without government interference, including about abortion, contraception and continuing a pregnancy, the poll also found. Only 17 percent were opposed.
Notably, half of Republicans and 81 percent of Independents said they support an individual’s right to make their own reproductive decisions. There is a gender gap among Independents and Republicans, with women more likely to strongly support a person’s right to make their own reproductive decisions.
Among voters who support abortion rights, especially younger women, abortion and women’s rights combined are top issues that will determine their vote next year.
Banning abortion also motivates voters to turn out in the 2024 elections, with 72 percent of voters who support abortion rights motivated, compared to 48 percent of voters who do not support abortion rights.
“The overturning of Roe v. Wade has lit a fire under voters, and continues to be a powerful turnout issue, especially among younger women, college-educated women, Latinas and voters ages 30-39,” said Kathy Spillar, executive editor of Ms. magazine, at a press conference at the National Press Club in D.C.
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