Researching the Down Ballot

Access to Reproductive Healthcare is a highly divisive issue.  It is useful to understand who is in favor of broad access and who favors restrictions and then vote for or against the candidates or measures according to your values.

1.  Use the resources in the Down Ballot Research Resources to identify your candidates and learn about them, generally. https://subjectguides.library.american.edu/downballot

2.  Endorsements

Endorsements by those favoring broad access to reproductive healthcare access

• Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL):  https://reproductivefreedomforall.org/elections/
• Planned Parenthood Action Committee:  https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/endorsements
• Vote Pro-Choice: https://www.voteprochoice.us/candidates-2024
• Emily's List: https://emilyslist.org/state-and-local-candidates/
• Blue Voter Guide: https://bluevoterguide.org/ - you can filter by issues including women's rights and equality
• Search for "reproductive freedom" AND state AND endorsement
• Search for pro-choice AND State AND endorsement

Endorsements by those favoring restrictions to reproductive healthcare access

• The main right to life organizations are at the state level.
  • Search STATE AND "Right to Life" AND "voter guide"
  • Search STATE AND "Right to Life" AND endorsement
• Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America: https://sbaprolife.org/election-hq

3.  Funding

• Search Open Secrets to see who is receiving funding: https://www.opensecrets.org/
  • Search by candidates to see who is funding them
  • Search by organizations to see who they are funding
  • If you have a question about an organization, learn more: Guidestar: https://www.guidestar.org/search

Some organizations favoring broad access to Reproductive Health Care Access

• Planned Parenthood
• Reproductive Freedom for All
• Emily's List

Some organizations favoring restrictions to Reproductive Health Care Access

• Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America
• Many variations of Right to Life

4. Keep up with what is going on state-by-state

• The Guttmacher Institute: https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy-resources