Dobbs Decision Dominates 2024 Election: Voters Weigh In on Abortion Rights

As the 2024 presidential election unfolds, the Supreme Court‘s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, continues to be a pivotal issue for voters across the United States. This is the first presidential election since the landmark decision, and its impact is palpable in multiple states.

In ten states, voters are directly addressing reproductive rights through ballot initiatives. States such as Arizona, Colorado, and Florida are considering amendments to explicitly protect abortion access until viability. Meanwhile, states with current abortion restrictions, including Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, and South Dakota, are offering voters the chance to protect abortion rights in their state constitutions. Maryland and New York are proposing broader reproductive rights, including protections against discrimination based on pregnancy.

The PRRI American Values Atlas indicates strong public support for the legality of abortion in most of these states. Solid majorities in states like New York, Maryland, and Nevada support abortion being legal in all or most cases. Even in more conservative states, there is significant support, with around six in ten residents in Colorado, Florida, and Arizona favoring legal abortion.

Abortion has become a critical voting issue, with around four in ten residents in these states stating they will only vote for candidates who share their views on abortion. This sentiment is particularly strong among women, who are more likely than men to make their voting decisions based on a candidate’s stance on abortion.

Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois has highlighted the Dobbs decision as a major motivator for voters, emphasizing the significant role it plays in this election cycle. The decision’s political fallout is expected to influence not only the presidential election but also other races in these states.

Experts like Alesha Doan, a professor at the University of Kansas, are available to provide insights into the presidential candidates’ positions on abortion, the ballot initiatives, and the broader implications of the Dobbs decision on the election.