NH Residents Are Very Concerned About Abortion Access
When you look at maps of abortion access across the country, the Northeast is highlighted as a protected region, where the right to abortion will remain legal regardless of what happens to Roe v Wade. But these maps don’t tell the whole story — that New Hampshire, for example, is a state with real cause for concern.
New Hampshire residents agree. In our recent survey, 80% of respondents from NH expressed concern about access in their state. That’s more than the level of concern from respondents in neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut. What’s more, there is quite a bit of confusion around what the NH law actually says. In fact, 60% of NH residents we surveyed don’t know whether abortion is codified into law even if Roe falls.
Here’s what you need to know about the state of abortion access in NH:
People are right to be concerned and confused. While abortion will remain legal in NH (the state does not have a “trigger law” banning abortion), the right is not specifically codified into law, as it is in Massachusetts and other states.
In January, New Hampshire’s State Legislature enacted draconian, unpopular anti-choice laws in spite of an electorate who has repeatedly made clear it values the right to choose. Thankfully, just a few weeks ago, after lots of impressive advocacy work, NH Governor Sununu finally signed a bill to add a fatal fetal anomaly exception to New Hampshire's 24-week abortion ban. But this isn’t enough to make us feel good about the state of abortion access in NH.
While NH clinics can legally provide abortion care up until 24 weeks, according to the Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire, NH clinics don’t currently provide abortion care beyond the end of the 15th week. That means people are already leaving the state when seeking abortion care later in pregnancy.
NH Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan is up for reelection this fall and facing challenges from GOP opponents who openly declare themselves anti-abortion.
So what can you do?
VOTE for pro-choice candidates up and down the ballot! At Reproductive Equity Now, we’re proud to honor Senator Maggie Hassan at our annual gala this year.
SHARE our New England Abortion Care Guide that offers information on abortion providers in NH.
Sign up to VOLUNTEER with Reproductive Equity Now! We’ll offer plenty of opportunities to get involved in NH.
DONATE to support our efforts to protect and expand access in the region.
