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Reproductive freedom has been hotly debated this past year. The election in November will be no different. Though it may feel far off, it’s time to start thinking about the critical issues on your ballot. This week’s article from our intern Katharine discusses what rides on the outcome of the November general election.

The Turning Point for Virginians’ Reproductive Rights

Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Virginia has become a haven for Southerners seeking abortions. The influx of patients crossing the border is straining resources among Virginia’s clinics and increasing wait times for locals seeking reproductive care. No one is feeling the impact more than rural and low-income patients. 

While Virginia currently has the most lenient abortion laws in the South, obtaining the procedure is no easy feat. Abortion is banned starting in the third trimester and the state prohibits Medicaid coverage of abortion except in very limited circumstances, making it exceptionally expensive. An in-clinic abortion without insurance can cost up to $800 in the first trimester, and as much as $2,000 in the second. The Commonwealth also requires parental consent for minors. 

On top of all that, the flood of patients from other states means that a procedure that used to take only a couple days from scheduling to recovery now takes weeks. Virginians are driving further than ever before to access the few clinics with openings. Not surprisingly, transportation, cost, and scheduling obstacles have caused rural and low-income communities to fall by the wayside.

The situation may become even more dire come November. Should an anti-choice majority win the general election, there’s no telling how forcefully the General Assembly would lower the hammer on reproductive rights.

If history is any indicator, Virginia could adopt similar restrictions as our neighboring states. In West Virginia and Kentucky, abortion is banned with very limited exceptions, and eligible patients are forced to wait 24 hours after counseling for their appointment. North Carolina restricts abortion at 12 weeks and requires patients make two trips to the clinic: the first for in-person counseling and the second at least 72 hours later for the procedure.

Further, these states require that abortions be performed by a physician, greatly shrinking the number of available and qualified healthcare professionals offering reproductive services. They also ban the use of telehealth and mail delivery of abortion pills, adding to the number of hurdles facing those seeking care.

The situation in Virginia is bad enough already. We can’t afford to join the rest of the South in banning or severely limiting abortion. An all-out ban would be the final nail in the coffin of abortion access for the state’s most vulnerable communities.

And those seeking abortions aren’t the only ones who would be harmed by more aggressive reproductive regulation. Physicians are leaving states with harsh abortion laws, citing the often-vague language surrounding exemptions that could land them in legal hot water. What’s left are “maternity deserts”—regions with no obstetric providers or birthing centers. These deserts pose a massive threat to the accessibility and quality of health care for pregnant patients. And they can be deadly. Those who do not receive prenatal care are five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than those who do. Rural communities will be some of the first to experience these effects.

States with the most severe abortion restrictions consistently have the weakest maternal support systems, meaning that even those who want to be parents experience a lower quality of care than those in states without abortion bans. If the Commonwealth follows the rest of the South, medical personnel and Virginians with wanted pregnancies will suffer under the same bans that back folks with unwanted pregnancies into a corner. Doesn’t seem particularly “pro-life” now, does it?

What can we do to prevent Virginia from joining its neighbors in rolling back reproductive rights further?

1. Vote

The future of Virginians’ reproductive rights depends on the outcome of the November elections. If anti-choice legislators gain the majority in both chambers, the General Assembly is likely to swiftly approve a 15-week abortion ban with stricter legislation on the horizon.

Not only are reproductive rights riding on the election, but also the right to accessible and high-quality prenatal care. The data show time and time again that abortion bans go in hand-in-hand with maternity deserts, poor access to prenatal care, and higher maternal mortality rates. Whether you’re someone experiencing an unplanned pregnancy or an expecting parent who can’t wait to meet their child, an abortion ban is not in your best interest.

Instead, vote for candidates who fight to improve the lives of Virginia families through thoughtful policy. If we truly want to create a nation without abortion, we must focus first on improving the support structures available to American families, from affordable housing to health care.

2. Donate to and volunteer with organizations doing the work to help Virginians receive reproductive health care.

There are a number of groups working to improve Virginians’ access to reproductive care. One organization making a difference in the Commonwealth is REPRO Rising Virginia, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring affordable and timely access to abortion, contraception, and other reproductive health services for Virginians. REPRO Rising Virginia also organizes rides for abortion patients to and from their appointments across the state. Known as the Practi-Cab, the volunteer-led program works with the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project to train drivers as abortion doulas to provide emotional support to patients during their rides.

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