Today marks the first US presidential election since the overturning of Roe v Wade, a ruling which guaranteed abortion rights across the country since 1973. And as voters head to cast their ballots, polls suggest the issue is front of mind for lots of voters.
Tens of millions of voters in Montana, Arizona, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York and South Dakota will be asked how their state should regulate abortion.
A New York Times/Siena College, external poll published on Sunday suggests abortion is the second-most crucial election issue for likely voters, after the economy. For women and younger voters, it is now the most important issue, the poll also finds.
Another analysis, published in October by health policy non-governmental organisation KFF,, external found that abortion had become the most important issue for women under the age of 30 – above inflation – which was the group’s top issue earlier this year.
The group also found that double the number of female voters it spoke to would trust Kamala Harris to do a better job than Donald Trump when it comes to policy related to abortion access in the US.
Harris has made abortion rights central to her campaign, advocating for legislation that would enshrine reproductive rights nationwide. Trump, though, has struggled to find a consistent message on abortion in recent months, after presiding over the appointment of the three judges to the Supreme Court who were pivotal in Roe v Wade’s overturning. (BBC News)
