A year ago today, Senate Bill 8, Texas’ six-week abortion ban, went into effect. Since then, Texans and the nation have seen the traumatizing effects of taking away our access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare. Some of us have faced the medical impacts caused by the criminalization of abortion, and countless have had to travel far from our home state to receive abortion care–even in cases where that care was lifesaving. The passage of this cruel law, which allows private citizens to sue providers or anyone allegedly involved in “aiding and abetting” abortions after six weeks (before most people can know they are pregnant), was a dystopian preview of what was to come: The fall of Roe v. Wade. But these attacks on our basic rights have not diminished our hope for a world where our bodies are our own. Texans are not backing down in the fight for abortion care and the freedom to build our own futures.
We believe we should control our own bodies–no matter what courts or lawmakers placating a loud minority say. Texans are ready for change, and laws like SB 8 are driving us to the ballot box. Today, we’re sharing findings that very clearly show the majority of Texans support the right to abortion–and we’re going to vote for it.
Here are some key findings:
- 60% of Texas voters support access to abortion
- Abortion is an equity issue: 80% of Black Texas voters support abortion access, 83% of AAPI Texans support access, and 67% of Latino/a/x voters support access – compared to 51% of white voters
- 53% of Texas voters said they are motivated “a lot” to vote in November by Senate Bill 8
- 67% of Texas voters agree that people should be free to make their own decisions without the government interfering
The poll was commissioned by Texas Freedom Network, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, AVOW, ACLU of Texas, Progress Texas, and Deeds Action Fund.
You can see all of our findings on what’s driving Texans to the polls in November by visiting this document or these slides.
