Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade this summer, the election in November has taken on increasingly high stakes for marginalized communities around the country. The decision has left people fearful for the future of not only abortion in the United States, but also issues like same-sex marriage and interracial marriage.

The Pennsylvania election is especially significant to students and other residents because this election has the potential to determine the legal status of abortion throughout the state. Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano has taken a hardline stance against abortion, while Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro supports abortion rights.

Genesis Whitlock ‘25, an out of state resident, is one student who is registered to vote in Pennsylvania for this election. When asked why they registered to vote here, they said “I registered to vote because it was accessible at the time! I intend to vote in PA based on the stakes of the election.”  

While many students have not registered to vote in the state of Pennsylvania, they still intend to change their voter registration prior to the November election. Raini Bozarth ‘24 has not yet changed her voter registration status, but she intends to. 

“PA is more of a swing state,” Bozarth told The Dickinsonian, “I am worried about my rights as a woman especially in regard to the recent overturn of Roe V Wade…my hometown state is more liberal but in PA, I’m worried about what will happen next.” Bozarth expressed how it is vital to vote because “it is important that we have the ability and I want to do what I can to help participate in the democratic process.”

To learn more about registering to vote for this upcoming election, students can visit Pennsylvania’s voter registration website at https://www.vote.pa.gov/Register-to-Vote/Pages/default.aspx.