The Quickie: It's Election Day!!!

Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie'' online here.

In today’s Quickie: What to watch this election day, spokespeople available for elections media, “Our eyes are on Ohio” says Alexis McGill Johnson, and the Fifth Circuit hears arguments requiring parental consent to obtain birth control.

HERE’S WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR ABORTION RIGHTS THIS ELECTION DAY: Abortion is on the ballot today and voters will once again turn out in key states to protect their right to control their bodies, lives, and futures. These victories for abortion rights will come despite desperate politicians who have stooped to new lows in their efforts to take away our rights — doing anything to get elected and advance their dangerous agendas. This cycle, we’ve seen them lie about their position on sexual and reproductive health care, spread egregious disinformation about abortion, and even purge voters from the voter rolls. But make no mistake: Voters will see through the lies, and abortion rights champions will win at the ballot box. Here’s what’s at stake:

• Ohio: With reproductive rights amendment Issue 1, Ohio is the only state where abortion is directly on the ballot this year. Opponents of Issue 1 have launched a full-throated disinformation campaign — with politicians abusing the power of their offices to defeat the measure.
• Pennsylvania: Abortion has also been a key factor in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court race. Since winning the Republican primary in May, Carolyn Carluccio has spent her campaign hiding her position on abortion and her ties to the anti-abortion movement.
• Virginia: With full control of the Virginia General Assembly up for grabs, this election will determine whether Gov. Youngkin has the votes he needs to enact his long-threatened 15-week abortion ban. 
• Kentucky: GOP gubernatorial candidate Daniel Cameron has been on the defensive about his hardline position on abortion and other sexual and reproductive health services. In recent weeks, Cameron — who previously lauded and even defended the state’s total ban on abortion in the court as attorney general — has suddenly worked to “soften” his out-of-touch position.

The vast majority of Americans support abortion rights. That’s why our opponents are working so hard to deny their long-held positions. They know they are on the wrong side of voters and may blatantly try to confuse them, but they will not win. Abortion will continue its winning streak at the ballot box.

Read more here.

 

SPOKESPEOPLE AVAILABLE FOR ELECTIONS MEDIA: There are spokespeople available at the national and state level who can speak to what’s at stake for abortion rights tonight and what’s happening in key races across the country: 

• Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Jenny Lawson, executive director, Planned Parenthood Votes
• Jamie Lockhart, executive director, Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC
• Lauren Blauvelt, chair, Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights
• Tamarra Wieder, state director, Planned Parenthood Action Kentucky
• Breana Ross, campaign director, Planned Parenthood Votes (covers Pennsylvania)

For scheduling, please contact: [email protected]

 

“OUR EYES ARE ON OHIO”: It’s the last day of voting for Ohio Issue 1, which will decide the fate of abortion access in the state. “Our eyes are on Ohio,” Planned Parenthood Action Fund president Alexis McGill Johnson told theGrio. “Unlike any other place we’ve seen so far, anti-abortion groups have invested big in misinforming Black Ohioans, in particular.” Even in the face of that disinformation, advocates are holding hope that Ohio voters will choose to protect reproductive freedom for future generations. Support for the amendment is coming not just from the grassroots. Big names like Busy Philipps, former Bartlet administration strategist Josh Lyman — excuse us, actor Bradley Whitford — and Cleveland native Kathryn Hahn are calling on voters to get out for Issue 1.

Kathryn Hahn says get out to vote early!

Looking for a boost of joy while you wait today? Check out Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights’ feed for voter selfies full of excitement after saying YES to abortion access. 

 

5TH CIRCUIT HEARS ORAL ARGUMENTS IN CASE TRYING TO REQUIRE PARENTAL CONSENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO OBTAIN BIRTH CONTROL: Yesterday, a panel of judges on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Deanda v. Becerra, after a district court judge held that minors getting their birth control without parental consent through Title X violates both Texas state law and the U.S. Constitution. That decision rejects decades-old precedent allowing young people to confidentially get basic health care through the Title X family planning program.

As Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America explained, “The same people using the courts to try to make abortion illegal and inaccessible are simultaneously trying to limit access to birth control. Young people should be able to make decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures, and Title X has made that possible for decades. Planned Parenthood will continue to fight to protect everyone’s access to essential reproductive health care services.”

Pennsylvania content paid for by Planned Parenthood Votes, 123 William St, NY NY 10038. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. Connected organization: Planned Parenthood Action Fund.   Kentucky and Virginia content paid for by Planned Parenthood Action Fund, 123 William St., NY NY 10038.   Ohio content paid for by Planned Parenthood Action Fund and provided in-kind to Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights.