PENNSYLVANIA - As Americans cast their final votes on Tuesday in a highly-contested presidential election, the deeply divisive issue of abortion and women’s rights continues to resonate strongly with voters in key battleground states.
The landmark US Supreme Court decision in 2022 that overturned the 50-year Roe v. Wade decision has transformed what was once considered settled law into a decisive campaign issue, particularly among women voters in undecided states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, where abortion rights have emerged as a pivotal issue in the final campaign speeches of Republican Party candidate Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamal Harris.
Pallavi Fisher, a University of Michigan student from a family that emigrated from India, is participating in her first election - a significant moment in a political process that could heavily impact her future.
"I cast my vote last week," 18-year-old Fisher told Rudaw on Tuesday. "On this matter, I support freedom of choice, which is why I voted for Kamala Harris, but I respect both sides and can understand the opposing viewpoint.
“While I might not choose abortion in the future from a moral standpoint, I understand some people go through difficult circumstances that lead to this decision,” she added.
In June 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned the 50-year Roe v. Wade decision on abortion rights. Trump appointed three justices to the court, making it more conservative.
In another battleground state, women shared their perspectives on this important issue.
"In my opinion, this is a women's decision," said Sandra Rubio, a Pennsylvania resident. "I believe it's not the government's role to decide what women do with their bodies. I'm certain no woman wants to have an abortion, but there are circumstances in life that we don't know about and are private matters, so women should make these decisions, not the authorities."
Caroline Williams, a retiree in Pennsylvania, echoed that the issue is a personal matter, and not one to be determined by the government.
"I believe women should have the choice," said Williams. "In America, we have this strange situation where if you break your arm and go to the doctor, the doctor and hospital sign that they won't disclose your information, but if a pregnant woman goes to a doctor, her information can be disclosed. This is insane."
In Republican-controlled states like Kentucky or Louisiana, abortion is completely illegal, even in cases of sexual assault. In other conservative states, abortion is only permitted in early pregnancy, when many people haven't yet realized they're pregnant.
The outcome of this presidential election could reshape the landscape of reproductive rights across the country and the balance of the high court. As polling stations prepare to close across the nation, the future of abortion rights hangs in the balance.
