Spice Up Your Fall with Activism: Why Voting in 2024 Is Non-Negotiable

Spice Up Your Fall with Activism: Why Voting in 2024 Is Non-Negotiable

AIMA Presents: Autumn 2024 - The Power of Your Vote for Reproductive Rights

The scent of cinnamon and cloves, the coziness of an oversized sweater, and the warm embrace of a pumpkin spice latte (PSL) all signal that fall is here. But this year, as we welcome the comfort of PSLs and embrace the warmth of autumn, it's more important than ever to get serious about something else: activism. Specifically, the kind of activism that requires heading to the polls and voting in 2024. In a time when reproductive rights are increasingly under threat, voting is not just a right—it's a powerful act of self-care and solidarity. This fall, let’s make sure we turn our love of cozy comforts into meaningful change.

The Stakes Are High: Reproductive Rights in 2024

Post-Dobbs World

After the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in 2022, the landscape of reproductive rights in the United States changed dramatically. The federal protection of abortion rights provided by Roe v. Wade was eliminated, leaving the regulation of abortion up to individual states. As a result, reproductive rights vary drastically across the country, and access to healthcare has become a political tug-of-war. In some states, reproductive healthcare remains accessible, while in others, even basic contraception is under threat.

The upcoming 2024 elections could be a turning point. Local and state representatives, as well as national legislators, will have a significant impact on the laws that govern our bodies. This fall, our love for pumpkin spice must be matched by our commitment to reproductive rights—because the decisions made by elected officials will determine whether women can freely access the care they need.

What’s at Stake

  • Access to Abortion Services: States like Texas and Idaho have implemented near-total bans on abortion, forcing women to travel across state lines, sometimes thousands of miles, to access healthcare.

  • Contraceptive Rights: Some state legislators are pushing for restrictions on birth control, making access to IUDs, emergency contraception, and other forms of contraception more difficult.

  • Maternal Healthcare: The reduction in reproductive health services has also affected maternal healthcare, particularly in states that have closed clinics and restricted funding for women’s health services.

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Voting as Self-Care and Collective Action

Electoral Action as Self-Care

For many of us, fall is a time for self-care—it’s about comfort, warmth, and taking care of our mental and physical well-being. But what if we saw voting as an extension of self-care? What if voting was seen as part of our strategy to protect our health, our bodies, and our futures?

Voting is a direct way to ensure that those who make decisions about our healthcare represent our interests. It’s about ensuring access to birth control, abortion services, and comprehensive maternal healthcare. By voting, we exercise our power to influence who sits in positions of power and what laws are put in place to govern our rights.

Imagine the same warmth you feel from a PSL being extended to knowing that your vote helped elect someone who values your health and autonomy. Voting is how we protect not just our own access to healthcare, but also the rights of millions of other women across the country.

Voting as Collective Power

Voting isn’t just an individual act—it’s part of a larger movement. When we vote, we join a collective that believes in equality, bodily autonomy, and reproductive justice. The 2024 elections aren’t just about one person or one seat—they’re about the future of reproductive rights in the United States. Our votes can make the difference between a state that provides comprehensive reproductive healthcare and a state that enforces restrictions that harm women and families.

Think about voting as a ritual, like your fall traditions. Just as you don your favorite scarf or order your PSL, voting can be a seasonal action that brings warmth and comfort through the power of change.

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How You Can Get Involved

1. Register to Vote and Encourage Others

The first step is ensuring you’re registered to vote. In some states, registration deadlines are approaching fast, so don’t wait until the last minute. Visit Vote.org to check your registration status or register for the first time. Encourage your friends, family, and community to register, too. The more of us who vote, the stronger our collective voice becomes.

2. Educate Yourself About the Candidates

It’s crucial to know where candidates stand on reproductive rights. Do they support access to safe and legal abortion? Do they pledge to protect contraceptive access? Websites like Ballotpedia, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund provide voter guides and information about where candidates stand on reproductive issues.

3. Make a Voting Plan

Voting shouldn’t be left to chance. Make a plan to vote early, absentee, or on Election Day. Decide how you’ll get to the polls, who you’ll go with, and what time you’ll vote. Studies show that making a concrete plan increases the likelihood that you’ll follow through. Just like making plans to grab a PSL with a friend, making a plan to vote helps ensure it actually happens.

4. Volunteer or Donate

If you’re passionate about reproductive rights, consider volunteering for organizations that support voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts. You could also donate to candidates who are committed to protecting reproductive rights or to organizations that fund abortion access, such as the National Network of Abortion Funds or Emily’s List.

Why This Matters for Millennials and Gen Z

Millennials and Gen Z are the largest, most diverse generations in American history. We have the power to shape the future, but only if we use it. We’re the generations that grew up believing in equality, in breaking barriers, and in standing up for what’s right. We’re also the generations most affected by the recent changes to reproductive rights.

Whether you’re thinking about your future family, managing chronic reproductive health issues, or simply believe in the right to bodily autonomy, the 2024 elections matter. Your vote will help decide if we continue to live in a world where access to reproductive healthcare is determined by your zip code, or if we can work towards a future where healthcare is available to all, without barriers or restrictions.

Conclusion: Make This Fall About More Than Just Comfort

This fall, as we wrap ourselves in scarves, sip our PSLs, and bask in the coziness of the season, let’s remember that true comfort comes from knowing our rights are secure. Voting in 2024 is non-negotiable—it’s how we fight for a future where reproductive healthcare is accessible for all. Our rights, our bodies, and our futures depend on it.

So, as you savor that warm blend of cinnamon and spice, make a plan to vote. Encourage your friends, show up at the polls, and let’s make sure our voices are heard. This fall, let’s spice up our activism and ensure that comfort, choice, and freedom belong to everyone.

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