Abortion is once again at the forefront of the Tuesday ballot, with Ohio residents casting their votes to determine the guarantee of abortion rights and Virginia voters considering whether to grant Republicans the authority to impose new restrictions on the procedure.

With the first presidential nominating contest in Iowa drawing closer in less than 10 weeks, national Republicans and Democrats are closely monitoring Tuesday’s elections to glean insights into the current stance of the U.S. electorate, setting the stage for the 2024 campaigns for the White House and Congress.

These elections in Ohio and Virginia hold particular significance for Democrats, offering an evaluation of whether abortion retains its political significance, as it did during the 2022 midterm elections, where voter discontent over the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to revoke a nationwide abortion right played a role in preventing a Republican landslide.

Meanwhile, for Republicans, the two states serve as strategic test beds as they grapple with formulating an effective message on the issue following last year’s challenges, Reuters reported.

In other parts of the country, Kentucky and Mississippi will be electing governors on Tuesday, and voters across the nation will be making choices for mayors and various other local elected officials.

Written by B. C. Begley