4 takeaways from Tuesday’s abortion ballot results
1. Idaho shows minds can change.
A year ago polling showed 60% of Idaho supported pro-choice Prop 1, but yesterday Idaho rejected it 56% to 44%. Idaho’s abortion restrictions stay in place.
2. Myths about later abortion carried Virginia.
Under their previous law, a 3rd trimester abortion required 3 doctors to certify a serious health risk. Now they need only one doc to say mental health concerns are enough to abort a viable child. Yet still we hear, incessantly, that later abortions are only done for medical emergencies, among other pleasant fictions.
[Read more – 7 abortion myths to check before you vote tomorrow]
3. When the playing field was nearly even, it went our way.
Pro-abortion groups have way more money than pro-life ones. Abortion advocates outspent us everywhere, by millions. They outspent us more than 3 to 1 in Missouri and Virginia, and about 20 to 1 in Nevada. The only fight where spending was close to even was Idaho (they spent $4.4M to our $3.5M) – and in Idaho, we won.
4. Every one of us who wants to oppose abortion has both the obligation and the ability to do what we can where we can.
You can’t raise millions of dollars for these fights (if you can – email me), but each and every one of us has the power to speak. No one can stop you from talking to the people in your life about this issue, and Secular Pro-Life can train you to do it well. Here are some places you can start:
- SPL’s in-depth comms training
- Tips for arguing online constructively
- Tips for effective in-person conversations
- The Storytelling Symposium: a free self-paced online training on how to tell your stories for impact
We said on Sunday that no matter what happened yesterday, our work continues on Wednesday. Well it’s Wednesday. Let’s go.
If you appreciate our work and would like to help, one of the most effective ways to do so is to become a monthly donor. You can also give a one-time donation here or volunteer with us here.
