MOLINE, Ill. — A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll revealed 59% of Iowans are against the state's "fetal heartbeat ban," which bans most abortions when electrical activity can be detected in the embryo.
This is the Register's first time tracking resident's thoughts on the law since it went into effect on July 29. 811 residents participated, with the poll running from Sept. 8-11.
The Iowa Democratic Party held a virtual townhall meeting on Monday, Sept. 23 in response to the new data, calling for voters to show up in November.
"Politicians in Des Moines have no business weighing in on that decision," Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said. "This ban is devastating. This ban is not what Iowans want. This ban is hurting and will kill women in our state."
This is something Dr. Emily Boevers said she's far too familiar with, as an obstetrician and gynecologist who works in Waverly, Iowa.
"Women overwhelming oppose abortion bans," Boevers said. According to the poll, 69% of Iowa's women said they oppose the current abortion policy.
"Women desire the autonomy to make their own medical decisions. Women and families in Iowa want the government to stay out of the exam room," Boevers said.
Paul Baumgardner, an assistant political science professor at Augustana College, is carefully keeping an eye on the upcoming races. He believes abortion policies are one of voter's top concerns, as we're still feeling the effects from the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The Court upheld the Mississippi Gestational Age Act, banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and overturning Roe v. Wade.
"So after the Supreme Court's decision, we saw states really craft their own abortion policies," Baumgardner said. "Because this matter is now left in the hands of the states, state legislatures are going to have to tell voters directly, here's what I support."