Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund Releases Legislative Scorecards
Granite Staters Should Check Their Electeds’ Voting Records Before Elections
For Immediate Release: Sept. 1, 2022
CONCORD - Today Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) released legislative scorecards for the New Hampshire House and Senate. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and, in turn, the loss of federal constitutional protections for abortion rights, the future of access in New Hampshire now depends on the state legislature. PPNHAF compiled critical votes taken by members of the New Hampshire House and Senate that impact reproductive rights, including on the state’s new 24-week abortion ban, to calculate each official’s score.
These scorecards are for informational purposes and therefore should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any candidate. In the coming weeks, the PPNHAF PAC will issue endorsements in state Senate races.
Statement from Kayla Montgomery, VP of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund:
“The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade gave state politicians permission to control our bodies and our futures. It has never been more important for New Hampshire’s state lawmakers to fight to protect and expand access to reproductive health care.
In New Hampshire, abortion is still safe and legal before 24 weeks. However, as the only state in New England without proactive protections for abortion rights, we know the future of abortion legality will depend upon each election and who holds power in Concord. Before Granite Staters head to the polls in September and November, we hope they will take time to research where their elected officials stand on abortion access.
New Hampshire has a proud, bipartisan history of supporting reproductive rights. In the shadow of a recently-enacted 24-week abortion ban, we must come together to hold our elected officials accountable and ensure the people we elect to lead us will fight to protect and expand reproductive rights - no matter what.”
BACKGROUND:
Scored Votes:
- PPNHAF calculates a legislator’s score by dividing the number of pro-reproductive rights and health votes during the most recent biennium by the total number of votes taken, excluding all absences. Legislators who scored 100%, for example, voted with PPNHAF on every vote they participated in.
- For more information on the bills scored by PPNHAF, please use the following charts:
Polling:
- August 2022 polling by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center shows that support for abortion rights in New Hampshire is at a historic high and nearly 6 in 10 voters disapproved of the overturning of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022.
- Polling released in July, 2021 from the UNH Survey Center shows that New Hampshire’s abortion ban is deeply unpopular, with only one-third of Granite Staters in support of it. Nearly half of independent Granite Staters oppose this ban, as do 27 percent of Republicans.
- The UNH Survey Center polling also shows that only 31 percent of Granite Staters support the provision signed by Governor Sununu that mandates medically unnecessary, often invasive ultrasounds before abortion care at all stages of pregnancy.
- The truth is, most Granite Staters and most Americans support access to safe, legal abortion. If someone has decided to have an abortion, more than 8 in 10 respondents want the experience to be supportive and nonjudgmental, without added burdens or protesters, affordable and safe.
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Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in New Hampshire. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.