American election: Abortion and Congress in the polls of November 5

Four and a day left for Americans to rush to the polls and send with their votes either him, or her to the White House. American voters will decide on November 5 the new White House tenant, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and will vote to renew Congress. In eleven states alongside the presidential election, elections are held for governor, while dozens are local referenda to be held. House of Representatives: In the elections on 5 November, the total of 435 seats will be renewed. Currently the body is controlled by the Republicans by little difference, but after American President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, Democrats hope to regain control of the House. Senate: In this year’s election 34 of the body’s 100 seats will be renewed, with senators serving a six-year term. Democrats currently have the majority in the Senate with just one vote and in this election they should defend two-thirds of the seats they hold. Republicans appear favourite and hope to overthrow the majority in their favor. In eight states—Montana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona and Texas—the difference between the Democratic and Republican nominee is small. In seven of these states the outgoing senator is a Democrat. Commanders: Voters in 11 states are invited to elect a new governor. The governor has executive powers in the state and decides on various issues, which do not concern the powers of the federal state. Abortion: After the abolition in June 2022 by the Supreme Court of his previous decision securing at federal level the right of women to abortion, the issue is at the heart of public debate. The Americans are invited to rule on the issue in referendums to be held alongside the presidential election. And in half cases (Florida, Arizona, Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota) the result of the referendum could mean a significant change in access to abortions. In Florida, the third most populous state in the United States, abortion is prohibited after week 6. Voters are asked to declare that abortions should be allowed to the point where the fetus can survive outside the womb, i.e. around week 24. In order to do this, ‘modification 4’ should receive 60% of the vote and according to recent polls it is not certain that it will be approved. Dozens of other referenda are held on November 5 in the US on various other issues. In Colorado, for example, voters will be asked whether they wish to ban hunting for trophy collection, which mainly concerns the heads of mountain lions (puma) and lynx, in Maine whether they will change the state flag. Finally, elections are held for various other elected offices at local level, such as judges, mayors, councillors, sheriffs…