That Persnickety Little US Abortion Issue

Arguably there isn’t a more hot-button topic to push on American politics than the abortion issue. With the plucking of Roe v Wade from Federal Constitutionality with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, abortion rights were set front and center to the purview of individual US States. The ideological split between the two major parties became a chasm then (as never before) and the country ignited over the issue and has been enflamed ever since.

As the November 5th election looms over Donald Trump and Kamala Harris US states indeed carry abortion front and center of the political scene. In fact, ten states have a score of amendments on their ballots ready to be voted into each state’s constitution.

What the states want

In alphabetical order, it comes down to Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota looking to add to or solidify laws on their books. It seems fetal viability, public health insurance plans covering abortion, and birth control availability are at the top of state concerns. There are also amendments in place for mandatory parental notification for minors seeking abortions.

But generally, these ten states are pro-abortion in the broadest sense.

Trump vs Harris

While the Republican side of the ticket seems to be vacillating over an exact stance on the abortion issue (at least out loud, there are plenty of assumptions to be made by past actions and rhetoric from this side) Kamala Harris has also come under some scrutiny about exactly what her stance means to certain voters.

Such an emotive topic like abortion finds critics and supporters on both sides ready to pounce on anything either candidate says, to prove pro or con their assumptions and wishes. And while, given their past opinions and overall ideologies, voters might indeed assume what both party feels on the issue, something this impactful should require care to be completely addressed lawfully.

Voters can only hope that it will be by both Presidental hopefuls.

Bellwether?

The title of this article is exactly what many American voters as well as political prognosticators presently postulate: “Will abortion on the ballot in today's elections be a bellwether for 2024?” Questions like “Will the fallout from Dobbs continue to animate Democrats, or can Republicans regain the momentum that brought them to this moment to begin with?” are at the top of what most voters want to know. But what we can be assured of when it comes to the U.S. Presidential vote is, pre-polling doesn’t ever amount to much on the night the votes are tabulated and almost always one issue does not carry the day.