Abortion: Electing progressive women in 2022 is vital in NC
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Abortion: Next NC election is crucial
The writer is executive director of Lillian’s List.
Twenty-five years ago, it was already evident that abortion would be under constant attack and that women were consistently underrepresented in making decisions that profoundly affect them.
Lillian’s List was founded to rectify that and supports progressive women who champion reproductive justice when seeking public office.
The Supreme Court’s latest decision on abortion handed immense power over healthcare decisions off to state legislators and made our work at the state level more pressing. With many of our neighboring states poised to ban or severely restrict abortion, the N.C. legislature will become the last line of defense against anti-choice forces intent on dismantling access to abortion and reproductive healthcare, not just in the state, but in the Southeast.
Make no mistake, North Carolina could easily go the way of Texas or Mississippi if we don’t support candidates in the 2022 election who understand that abortion is healthcare, reproductive freedom is fundamental, and that women, who would be most impacted by these decisions, should have a seat at the table.
Extreme anti-abortion Republicans in the legislature have passed legislation to restrict abortion access in all but one legislative session since taking power in 2011. North Carolina already has a long list of hoops patients must jump through just to access this care.
Republicans have demonstrated what will happen if they regain the ability in November to override the governor’s veto. We know abortion opponents will not stop until abortion, this basic healthcare that 25% of women will access in their lifetime, is banned in N.C. and across the country.
Elections have consequences. The 2016 election resulted in the current makeup of the Supreme Court, which overturned 50 years of precedent. But we have an opportunity in 2022 to launch a full-throated defense of reproductive healthcare at the ballot box.
The results of this election will determine whether abortion remains legal in North Carolina and accessible to women across the Southeast. For many of us, our health, our lives, and our autonomy absolutely depend on the 2022 election results.
As support for abortion reaches an all-time high, every one of us needs to get in this fight, volunteer, support, contribute and help elect the progressive women running in 2022.
Sarah Preston, Raleigh
New elections law isn’t necessary
The writer is a former N.C. state senator and Cornelius mayor.
Trying to legislate morality and control behavior through federal legislation, state statutes and municipal ordinances is a slippery slope. Yet, there are always continued efforts by elected officials to do just that.
I believe there is general agreement that the rule of law and protecting people’s rights are central to a civil society.
As well-intentioned as it may be, state Sen. Jay Chaudhuri’s bill (the Safeguard Fair Elections Act) attempts to legislate morality. In short order we realize that Chaudhuri is tilting at windmills. Not that the idea is not important, but for centuries man has tried to legislate morality and behavior for which we have thousands of laws that punish bad behavior. There are also plenty of harassment laws that protect against conduct that annoys, threatens, intimidates, alarms and puts a person in fear of their safety.
When do we stop writing laws that try to control behavior? Do we need to codify into statute how to behave at an election site?
My good friend and former colleague Chaudhuri said: “This legislation ensures that elections in the future will be decided by voters, not intimidation, threats, or even violence.”
Why do we immediately jump to the conclusion that a new law will change how people behave? There are already laws that protect people from bad behavior and violence at polling locations during an election.
For most things, all that is required is to observe and enforce as necessary the laws we already have.
The United States is a nation founded on individual rights and we flourish because of these rights. Most people know right from wrong. We understand what behavior is unacceptable. We do not need more legislation to tell us how to behave or protect us in public.
Jeff Tarte, Cornelius
