With less than a week away from the 2024 Presidential election, abortion has been a key topic to determine the sway of voters.
Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, has been clear that all women should have the right to make decisions about their own body, and the government should not be in control. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, has expressed his opinion that the states should have the right to choose and that “everyone wanted it back to the states.”
“The government should not control abortion to an extent. It should be the same for all of the states,” states Sophie Best, ’26.
In his first term, Trump appointed six supreme court justices, which, in 2022, those justices overturned Roe v. Wade, a 1973 case determining the right of abortion. The phrase, “My body, my choice” reignited the debate with COVID-19 vaccinations and efficacy. Now, the phrase is more commonly used on the topic of abortion.
Trump has stated many times that Roe being killed, “ is what the people wanted, everyone wanted it back to the states.” Trump has also stated that people have been aborting babies after they are born. Killing a baby after it is born is considered murder, not abortion.
According to Pew Research Center, most abortions occur in the first trimester, 13 weeks. A fetus cannot survive without its mother until 22 weeks. Since most abortions occur before 22 weeks, people see it as harmless.
CNN wrote a headline which stated that more infants have died at higher rates after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, due to birth defects or other reasons. More women have also died due to not getting healthcare/abortions.
“There are a lot of women out there who are scared to vote or don’t want to vote. Their vote does matter and it will affect the election,” says Mikaela Lipitz , ’26.
Harris intends to do everything she can to make abortion available nation wide. While Trump said he would veto a national abortion ban, his Project 2025 plans state differently. The election will be held next Tuesday, Nov 5.