4 Ways Your Rights Will Be Questioned in the Election

Every election is important, but this year there are more issues than ever, from reproductive rights to the state of our democracy. With advance voting now available in many states and Election Day (November 8) just around the corner, now is the time to decide how you will vote. And no one understands better than Vice President Kamala Harris how voters' choices can affect this country.

The Dobbs v. Jackson decision, coupled with the continued denial of the outcome of the 2020 election, makes me feel as if the democracy America once had is crumbling beneath our feet. I was an organizer in 2016, and the sense of impending doom I felt on that election night is eerily similar to the sentiment evoked by the June defeat of Roe v. Wade.

Since the Roe decision was overturned, states across the country have passed, signed, or proposed legislation criminalizing abortion. Nearly half of the 22 states, to be exact, have enacted laws prohibiting or severely restricting abortion. This means that 36 million women have lost access to this basic reproductive care.

But despite the weight of these life-altering events, opportunities await us in this year's midterm elections.

I had the opportunity to discuss with the Vice President where our country stands on reproductive rights for women, and many other important policies. Along with my co-host, Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, we were able to delve into what Vice President Harris sees as the key issues that will define this year's midterm elections and how we, as voters, can make a difference.

Here are four main takeaways:

1. The right to one's own body is at stake.

When the Dobbs decision was handed down, millions of women were deprived of essential access to abortion by both existing trigger laws and new laws introduced this summer. Vice President Harris emphasized the importance of local elections, particularly with regard to abortion rights, telling the audience that Especially in states that criminalize health care providers. Doctors, nurses, and health care providers are being treated as criminals, with laws being proposed and passed that would literally put health care providers (who provided abortion care) in jail.

It is a sobering reality that laws have been proposed and passed in various states that even make no exception for victims of rape and incest. The vice president, a former prosecutor and avid advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, emphasized the inhumanity: "We are talking about a person who has endured an extreme act of violence or violation of his or her body, and the so-called leaders are depriving that individual of the ability to make decisions about his or her body in the future. It would be It is immoral."

Nevertheless, Vice President Harris and President Biden have pledged to do their part to protect women. She added, "It is true that U.S. President Joe Biden has stated that he will not allow any filibuster to stand in the way of the passage and signing of the 'Women's Health Protection Act,' which would codify the protections of the Roe v. Wade trial."

She continued: "It is also true that the President needs two more Senators to vote for it in order to make it happen." Senate races in many swing states, including Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, are increasingly competitive. And many candidates have been vocal in their opposition to abortion access, even if they have tried to hide their positions after primaries.

2. health care, especially for black and indigenous mothers, is on the ballot.

One issue that is extremely personal to Vice President Harris is maternal health care. Black women are three times more likely to die from childbirth-related causes. Indigenous women are twice as likely to die in childbirth-related circumstances. Rural women are 1.5 times more likely to die. The Biden administration has taken the issue to the next level, hosting a "Day of Action for Pregnant Women" summit last year and announcing a series of actions aimed at reducing maternal mortality rates.

But more can be done. Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) has introduced the Black Maternal Health Mamanibus Act of 2021 in the House, but it has not moved forward in Congress. Harris notes, "It really matters who is in Congress." All House members face elections next week. Make sure you know where your candidate stands on revolutionizing essential health care, not just providing it.

3. Democratic principles are at stake in the U.S. and around the world.

Vice President Harris noted that this election has implications beyond access to abortion: "There are many elements to this issue, including democracy and the nature of democracy. I believe there are two sides to democracy. There are two sides to democracy. On the one hand, when the principles on which our democracy is based - freedom, liberty, justice - are intact, democracy is very powerful, and so is the power it gives to the people. But on the other hand, democracy is also very fragile. Democracy is only as strong as our will to fight for it."

In this midterm election, many candidates deny or deny the legitimacy of the 2020 elections. They have made it part of their platform. If such candidates, especially for positions such as Secretary of State, win, the entire electoral system could be undermined or overhauled. Gerrymandering is already a serious problem, and historically political parties have used their influence to stay in power. The process of electing our representatives could change from free and fair to partisan.

And the laws and policies we make in the United States have repercussions far beyond our borders. Vice President Harris spoke about our country's role in the world and said, "One of my great fears is that dictators around the world will look at their own people and say, 'You want to talk about these rights. You want to talk about these rights. And if they do that, the impact could be not only on the American people, but on people all over the world."

4. LGBTQ+ rights are under attack.

While the Dobbs decision only directly affects abortion rights, the Supreme Court decision opens the possibility of other rights being eroded in the future. Vice President Harris emphasized this risk, saying, "We must not forget that in the Dobbs decision, ...... Clarence Thomas said the quiet part out loud. He literally said, "This opens up the next step, which as far as I'm concerned means a reconsideration, or questioning, or attack, of the right to contraception and the right to marry the person you love.

Congress then took steps to protect marriage equality, and the House passed the Respect for Marriage Act, which codifies the legality of same-sex and interracial marriage under federal law, with bipartisan support. However, the Senate postponed a vote on the bill until after the midterm elections. This means that who they send to Congress could affect whether the bill becomes law.

[17] Vice President Harris ended his talk with a call to action to the audience: "Don't get overwhelmed, don't get tired, and don't raise your hand when the time comes to roll up your sleeves."

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