7 In 10 Americans Are Pro-Choice. Here’s Why You Need To Elect Pro-Choice Champions

Did you know that 7 in 10 Americans support a woman’s right to choose? Even though there’s a pro-choice majority, anti-choice politicians and state legislatures across the country are rolling back reproductive rights right under our noses. We’re saying: Enough is enough!

Unfortunately, even though the majority of Americans support pro-choice values many are represented by anti-choice politicians who push their own ideology and make it their top priority to restrict women’s rights everywhere.

That’s why we need those 7 in 10 pro-choice Americans to vote their pro-choice values and give anti-choice politicians the boot. Here are 7 reasons why we need to elect pro-choice champions:

1) Anti-choice officials are burning up tax-payer dollars to defend anti-choice restrictions and to fund anti-choice organizations that lie to and shame women out of choosing abortion.

Via Facebook: naralprochoiceamerica

We elect representatives to fight for our reproductive rights, not support “crisis pregnancy centers” (CPCs) that lie to women about their reproductive-health options. Not only are these centers morally egregious, they’re also endangering women by giving them misleading and often blatantly false information about their health and bodies. Not to mention, anti-choice state legislatures are blowing millions of dollars to defend anti-choice laws that hurt women and families.

2) 7 in 10 Americans support a woman’s right to choose, but only 3 in 10 state senates and only 2 in 10 state houses are pro-choice.

Via Facebook: naralprochoiceamerica

There is something seriously wrong here, the numbers don’t add up. We need candidates who will step up and speak out when it comes to women’s personal medical decisions. By electing solidly pro-choice officials we can ensure that women’s rights and access to health care are protected.

3) Depending on your zip code, your access to reproductive-health care may be bleak at best.

It shouldn't matter where you were born or where you choose to live. Women’s access to reproductive-health care and abortion should not be determined by anti-choice politicians in that state. Right now, some women in states with anti-choice legislatures are being forced to drive hundreds of miles or leave their state to access basic care. Currently, there are six states that only have one remaining clinic that offers abortion care for the entire state. It’s outrageous and completely unacceptable. Since 1995, 837 anti-choice laws have been signed into law across the country. Do you know where your state stands on choice?

4) Anti-choice governors resort to lying and cheating tactics to restrict women’s access to reproductive-health care because they know the public would never support their anti-choice agenda.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what’s happening on the federal level that we forget how much power anti-choice governors have, and how low they sink to push their ideology on others. That includes lying and cheating to get their way. Remember that time North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory made a campaign promise to not sign any abortion-related legislation and then turned around and signed a bill (unrelated to abortion) that snuck in a provision to severely restrict women’s access to health care? Or what about when Texas Gov. Rick Perry cheated in order to sign an omnibus anti-choice bill into law in the dark of night? That law is now causing the majority of reproductive-health clinics throughout the state to close their doors.

There are currently only 17 pro-choice governors in the country, and that’s why we need to elect more pro-choice champions.

5) When voters are educated on what’s at stake, they vote their pro-choice values at the ballot box.

We see it time and time again. When voters know the facts about anti-choice restrictions, they show up at the polls to shut them down. Take ballot measures for example. When anti-choice groups wanted to pass so-called “personhood” legislation that would ban abortion and many common forms of birth control, voters in the conservative state of Mississippi said “nope, no thanks!” In Albuquerque, when anti-choice organizations tried to pass an abortion ban after 20 weeks, voters overwhelmingly shut it down.

6) When women can’t access safe, legal, abortion, some resort to unsafe options that put their health and safety in danger.

We’ve been seeing the repercussions of anti-choice restrictions across the country in drastic ways. After these anti-choice laws go into effect, many women have nowhere to turn to for reproductive-health care or abortion services. Research shows that restricting abortion doesn't decrease abortion care, but it forces women to seek unsafe, back-alley procedures. In the most desperate situations, seven percent of women in Texas reported trying to self-abort in 2011 and it’s only gotten worse since.

7) Women are people, corporations are not.

Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that bosses at the arts-and-crafts store Hobby Lobby can deny insurance coverage for birth control to their employees. They basically said that discrimination against women’s health isn’t discrimination at all. Pro-choice champions in Congress sprang into action and introduced the “Not My Boss’ Business” Act which, if passed, would ban bosses from cherry picking which guaranteed benefits their employees receive. That’s why we need those 7 in 10 voters to support these pro-choice champions and support other pro-choice candidates who we can rely on to stand up when our rights are at risk.

As we reach out to the three in 10 Americans who don’t believe women should have the right to make decisions about their reproductive health and well-being, here are three things our pro-choice voters can do to help give them common sense.

8) Take action!

Sometimes it can be challenging to know how to make a difference, especially if you live in a more conservative area, but there are so many ways you can get involved. Take action on our webpage to hold your state legislatures and national representatives accountable and learn more about anti-choice laws in your state.

9) Get the word out about how anti-choice restrictions endanger women’s lives.

From now through Election Day, we're going to be educating voters about their candidates' record on choice to make sure that voters show up for candidates who show up for women and families.

10) Share our graphic on Facebook. Tell the world just how awesome you are!