In 2024, the Supreme Court could yet again make a decision that restricts access to abortion for millions of Americans. In a new challenge to abortion access, the court will review a series of actions by the Food and Drug Administration that expanded access to the abortion pill mifepristone, including making the drug available by mail.
With oral arguments set to begin in the coming months and a decision expected by June — less than six months ahead of the 2024 presidential election — this case could have major political ramifications. In a new Data for Progress survey, we find that a majority of voters think the U.S. should continue allowing abortion medication to be sent by mail, including a majority of Democrats and Independents.
If the Supreme Court does overturn the ability for mifepristone to be prescribed by telemedicine and sent through the mail, we find only 39% of voters would agree with the decision.
Already, women across the country have lost access to reproductive health care thanks to the decisions of conservative judges. In a case out of Texas this month, a pregnant woman named Kate Cox was denied an abortion by the Texas Supreme Court, even though her fetus had a fatal condition that put her life and future fertility at risk. Hours before the order came down, Cox was forced to flee the state to access an abortion.
We find that 83% of voters believe that someone in Kate Cox’s situation should be allowed to have an abortion, including 90% of Democrats, 84% of Independents, and 74% of Republicans.
Broadly, these findings show that voters reject attempts to restrict access to abortion, and believe that Americans should continue being allowed to receive abortion medication through telemedicine and the mail.
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Written by Abby Springs and Lew Blank. Cross-posted from Data for Progress.
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