“Which Side Got It Right? The Crucial Role of Abortion Rights on Election Day

The results of the 2020 Presidential election have shown that abortion rights was a major driving factor in several states and for the overall outcome of the election. Many voters chose to vote for President-elect Joe Biden because of his stance on abortion rights; however, the role abortion rights played in the 2020 election has been a source of debate. Republicans argue that the role abortion rights was overstated by Democrats, while Democrats argue that Republicans underestimated its influence. To begin with, from a Democratic standpoint, Biden’s stance on abortion rights is one of the primary reasons that the Democratic Party was victorious in the election. His stance on abortion rights is seen as a way to protect a woman’s Constitutional right to make her own healthcare decisions free from government interference as was outlined in the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade in 1973. In addition, Biden is also in favor of repealing the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal money for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the woman. This is a popular policy among Democrats, as evidenced by the support the policy received from several of the Democratic primaries candidates. On the other hand, Republicans claim that the role of abortion rights was overestimated by Democrats in this election. They argue that in many cases, the emphasis on abortion rights masked other more pertinent issues such as the economy, security, and healthcare. Abortions should not be used as a political tool, and all citizens should have the right to make their own healthcare decisions without government interference. Despite the difference of opinion between the two parties, the 2020 election shows that abortion rights was an integral part of this election and is seen as a major issue by both Republicans and Democrats. It was especially important to voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, the three states that President-elect Biden won that tipped the election in his favor. While both parties dispute the role of abortion rights in the 2020 election, it is clear that this issue is of utmost importance to many Americans and will remain an integral part of the political discourse for years to come. The Biden administration promises to protect a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions free from the government, and it will be up to the Supreme Court and Congress to tackle this issue head on in the near future.