Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, Planned Parenthood Action PAC North Carolina, and Planned Parenthood Votes Announce $10 Million 2024 Voter Engagement Program

RALEIGH, N.C. — Today, Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, Planned Parenthood Action PAC North Carolina, and Planned Parenthood Votes launched an unprecedented $10 million voter engagement program across North Carolina. This multi-tiered program will emphasize the critical stakes for reproductive rights as these organizations collectively educate voters on the threats to abortion access this election and support reproductive health and rights champions up and down the ballot across the state. 

The overall $10 million campaign will knock over 1 million doors through Election Day. Local Planned Parenthood political entities will open five field offices in Wake, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, and Buncombe Counties as part of a statewide engagement strategy with other America Votes partner groups to break the anti-abortion supermajority in the state legislature and elect Attorney General Josh Stein to the governor’s office. Planned Parenthood Votes will also engage voters to re-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and flip the U.S. House to a pro-abortion rights majority.

Abortion access hangs by a thread in North Carolina, and the stakes couldn’t be higher — both for patients in the state and people in the surrounding region who are forced to seek abortion care out of state because of bans and restrictions at home. On May 1, North Carolina will become one of only two states in the South to provide abortion care past six weeks of pregnancy. North Carolina's SB 20, which took effect in July 2023, bans abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy in nearly all circumstances. SB 20 included additional barriers to care before 12 weeks —  such as mandating that patients make  two in-person health center visits  before getting abortion care. These burdensome restrictions disproportionately impact Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, LGBTQ+ people, young people, and people with low incomes — communities in North Carolina and across the country that already face the greatest barriers to care and opportunity, due to systemic racism and health care inequities. 

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the 2024 Republican candidate for governor, has previously stated: “If I had all the power right now, say I was the governor and had a willing legislature, we could pass a bill right now that says you can’t get an abortion in North Carolina for any reason.” 

Statement from Emily Thompson, deputy director of Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic and Planned Parenthood Action PAC North Carolina:

“This a pivotal election for abortion access in North Carolina and for the entire South. Dangerous abortion bans have rapidly consumed our region, causing irreparable harm to thousands of people who are deprived of access to essential, life-saving care. 

Every North Carolinian should have the freedom to control their own body, life, and future. This election, Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic and our allies are committed to ensuring voters in this state know the real threat that anti-abortion politicians like Mark Robinson pose to our reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. We are proud today to launch Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations’ largest-ever electoral campaign in North Carolina and to fight like never before to elect champions who will protect our most fundamental freedoms.”

Statement from Jenny Lawson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes:

“The stakes could not be higher in this election for North Carolinians and their reproductive rights. North Carolina is one of 21 states with an abortion ban in place, and every day families and communities suffer under this public health crisis that Donald Trump created. A second Trump term would only wreak more havoc in North Carolina with willing allies in the governor's office and state house, who will turn back the clock on abortion access even further, and create more devastation nationwide. We are committed to re-electing President Biden and Vice President Harris, who have proven that they will push back on attacks to our most fundamental freedoms and continue to ensure politicians stay out of the exam room. At no point in a pregnancy is a politician more qualified to make decisions about your health than you and your health care provider. ”

View this morning’s press conference recording here.

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Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic (PPVSAT) is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. PPVSAT engages in educational and electoral activity, including public education campaigns, lobbying, grassroots organizing and electoral endorsements.

Planned Parenthood Votes is an independent expenditure political committee registered with the Federal Election Commission.

Planned Parenthood Action PAC North Carolina is an independent expenditure political action committee registered with the North Carolina State Board of Elections.