Dear John,
As the election season kicks off in earnest and with the consequential midterms fast approaching, Ms.’s fall issue delves into the impact that the Dobbs v. Jackson decision could have on the election's outcomes. It’s clear that abortion is on the ballot — but how will it sway turnout and voters’ decisions in an election that traditionally sees lower numbers of voters?
In our lead feature article, we take a deep dive into recent polling on what voters say about the issues they most care about, talk with experts and strategists, and examine trends in voter registration and voter turnout.
We also explore how the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe will impact the fall elections in a multitude of other ways — including in the ongoing fight to break the filibuster. Currently, Senate Republicans are using the filibuster to block legislation that could secure abortion rights nationwide, to block voting rights reforms, and to prevent a vote on a resolution to remove the timeline on the Equal Rights Amendment. (The House has passed all these bills.) But this fall’s elections could change that: Democratic gains in the Senate could ensure that filibuster reform is made possible, and the critical legislation passed.
Ms.’s fall issue also takes you to the very frontlines of democracy: election officials, over 90 percent of whom are women, are facing more threats than ever heading into the 2022 midterms. From death threats to smear campaigns, officials are facing a multitude of threats from Trump supporters who continue to maintain that the 2020 election was faked. As they prepare for the elections (sometimes behind bullet proof glass), they tell us what is needed to ensure our democracy is protected.
This election season, we’re keeping a close eye on ballot measures in states across the country. November’s elections will see five abortion-related measures up for the vote, in Kentucky, Montana, Vermont, California and Michigan—the most the U.S. has ever seen in a single year. In the latter three states, voters will have the chance to enshrine the right to abortion in their state constitutions. And in Nevada, voters will decide whether to add an Equal Rights Amendment to their state constitution.
We hope you’ll explore these election issues and so much more in our new Fall issue — click here to get the issue in your mailbox or on your Ms. app. And be sure to head to msmagazine.com for the latest feminist reporting on all the election issues you're following — from abortion to the ERA and more.
