Women voters are set to play a crucial role in the upcoming US elections, particularly on the issue of reproductive rights. As Democrats and Republicans address the heated debate over abortion, women are becoming increasingly influential in shaping the election results.
"The fight for the right to vote for women was a 50-year-long battle," said Susan Boser, social policy director at the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania – a non-partisan group promoting women’s political participation.
"And since then, any efforts to restrict it or to deny equal access under the law have been battles we’ve fought for a long time. We’re not going away now," she told RFI.
One of the most divisive issues ahead of the 5 November vote is the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v Wade, the 1973 decision that had guaranteed women’s constitutional right to an abortion.
In June 2022, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organisation case that the constitution "does not confer a right to abortion" – giving individual states the power to regulate or ban abortions.
Boser, who had grown up knowing abortion was legal and safe, said she was appalled and angry when she heard the ruling.
"I am fearful for the women whose lives are affected by this," she added, underlining that after the Dobbs ruling, many southern states banned abortions.
An abortion-ban tracker by The New York Times shows that 21 states now "ban abortion or restrict the procedure earlier in pregnancy than the standard set by Roe v Wade".
As a result, women seeking abortions are travelling to states like Pennsylvania, where it is legal up to the 23rd week of pregnancy.
"We’ve seen a large influx of people coming here for abortions," Boser said.
We still have fights ahead of us after this particular election
REMARKS by Susan Boser
To protect those seeking abortions, Pennsylvania is preparing legislation to prevent judges, courts and medical facilities from sharing information about abortion seekers and their helpers with other states that could prosecute them.
But the issue remains unresolved. While Democrats control the State House of Representatives and support the bill, the Republican-led Senate is opposed.
"It’s a very hot issue now," Boser said.
Cornerstone
Reproductive rights have become a cornerstone of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s campaign, with her often sharing personal stories that highlight the dangers of restricted access to abortion.
Her vocal advocacy contrasts sharply with the mixed messages of her Republican opponent Donald Trump. he wants to appeal to his conservative anti-abortion base, while also trying to reach moderate and undecided voters.
Polling data shows Trump trailing Harris by nearly 13 points among women voters nationwide.
However, women voters are not united on abortion. Many conservative women, especially in rural areas, support Trump's anti-abortion stance, seeing the end of Roe v Wade as a victory.
This reflects a broader divide, with some women prioritising issues like the economy and healthcare over reproductive rights.
But the abortion issue may be a gamechanger, Boser said.
"On the issue of reproductive choice, you will see that’s a factor in who they vote for," she added.
"And they’re more likely to lean Democrat, not just for president, but also in the down-ballot races for governor and candidates for the House of Representatives and Senate."
