Abortion rights have long been ballot winners — but post-Roe, even more so

The issue of abortion rights has been a ballot box winner for decades, particularly in the United States. The Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 gave women the right to access legal abortion and ultimately ushered in a range of new protections and access to abortion services. But in recent years, the issue of abortion rights has become even more important to many voters. In the wake of the Trump Administration and its steady erosion of reproductive rights, the 2018 mid-term elections saw a historic spike in turnout among pro-choice voters, and exit polls showed that 66% of Americans support Roe and protections of abortion rights. In the 2020 election cycle, support for abortion rights has taken on an even more prominent role, and many states have either passed or proposed new laws to restrict access to abortion. In the face of this conversation, it is no surprise that support for abortion rights has grown and is one of the most important voting issues for many people in the United States.