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Indiana political expert weighs in on how Supreme Court draft could effect polls

WFIU/WTIU

A draft of the majority decision by the U-S Supreme Court to strike down Roe v. Wade is unlikely to affect election results today, but could have bearing at the midterms in the fall.

Andy Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, said because the news broke so late last night, it’s unlikely to influence voters at today’s polls.

“A lot of the people who would have noticed it late last night were probably already going to vote,” he said.

Downs said some members of the general assembly who would have wanted to introduce abortion legislation, but haven’t because it would have failed to Roe v. Wade, may feel more motivated to introduce that legislation in the next legislative session.

“So, we’re much more likely to see action beginning in the next session of the general assembly,” Downs said.

Downs also said what that action looks like could come down to whether more moderate or more conservative Republicans win their races today. He said, if more very conservative candidates win, it may give Democrats the opportunity to pull in independent or moderate Republican voters in the general election, on the issue of abortion.

Ella Abbott is a multimedia reporter for 89.1 WBOI. She is a strong believer in the ways audio storytelling can engage an audience and create a sensory experience.
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