On Tuesday, Virginia voters will decide who will control the state legislature, which is currently divided between Republicans and Democrats each controlling one chamber.
Outlawing abortion at 15 weeks or earlier would mean residents of southern states seeking the procedure after this point would be funneled into clinics in states even further away.
Bans or restrictions in all the southern states would also mean denying or restricting access to more than 110 million Americans, or one third of the entire country’s population, and seven of the 10 fastest-growing cities.
CNN defines southern states here as the states that seceded during the Civil War, which while a popular definition is not how the US Census defines the South.
Democrats, who previously controlled both the legislature and governorship, were left with a 22-17 majority in the State Senate.
Persons:
Roe, Wade, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, “, ”
Organizations:
Republicans, Republican Gov, Democratic, CNN, Youngkin’s, Virginia PAC, Delegates, State Senate
Locations:
Virginia, State