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Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could further erode federal protections for abortion by allowing hospitals to refuse to provide abortion services to patients experiencing serious pregnancy complications.

Anti-choice extremists are arguing that a patient would need to be on the verge of death before being eligible for an abortion, and that even patients at risk of losing an organ could be denied care.

Abortion rights and reproductive freedom remain under constant attack. If there’s a political solution to this crisis, it must include a whole-of-government approach. With primary season well underway and just over six months until the general elections, here’s what we’re focused on:

NEW (AND VERY OLD!) BANS IN FLORIDA AND ARIZONA

In recent weeks, State Supreme Courts in Florida and Arizona gave the green light to near-total abortion bans, both of which include criminal punishments for abortion providers. Arizona’s ban is a zombie law from 1864—before the Voting Rights Act, women’s suffrage, and even Arizona statehood. Democrats in the Arizona state legislature are leading efforts to repeal this ban, but even if they succeed, a newer abortion ban would remain in place for patients past 15-weeks gestation.

To put it plainly, threatening healthcare providers, patients, and people who support them with handcuffs and jail time is horrifying.

That’s why we launched Care is Not Criminal, a program to elect pro-choice district attorneys, judges, sheriffs and attorneys general who will fight against criminalizing abortion care.

With stakes this high and thousands of criminal legal positions up for election across the country, can you invest in our Care is Not Criminal emergency fund?

YOUNG VOTERS ARE LISTENING—AND THEY’RE PRO-CHOICE

Young voters are not motivated by the presidential election, but they ARE motivated by abortion rights. That’s why we’ve developed programs to engage voters in states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Michigan, where young people – particularly young women – have so much power.

Research shows that when voters are excited by state and local candidates, they’re more likely to turn out and vote. Our down ballot endorsements connect pro-choice community leaders—so often on the frontlines of the fight for abortion rights—to young people who are ready to rally behind candidates they trust to fight for our reproductive freedom.

We are filled with gratitude for our candidates, partners, pro-choice organizers, and voters like you, who continually remind us that the majority of this country is deeply and unapologetically pro-choice.

Thank you for supporting our work,

Sara Tabatabaie
Executive Director
Vote Pro-Choice