ACOG Statement on Misinformation and Interference in the Democratic Process

The following is a statement from Stella Dantas, MD, FACOG, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):

“Voting is a social determinant of health. ACOG is concerned about ongoing efforts to spread misinformation and interfere with the democratic process—especially this year, when voting will play a particularly critical role in the health of communities in states with abortion-related ballot initiatives. 

“Recently, reports have emerged of government overreach, including manipulating the language used to describe ballot initiatives related to abortion, releasing inaccurate representations of the financial impact of the initiatives, questioning the integrity of the petitions that led to the initiatives, and trying to restrict the communications released by supporters of the initiatives. Government agencies should be committed to supporting the citizens who rely on them, not silencing their voices.

“Meanwhile, anti-abortion activists continue to perpetuate baseless claims and abject misinformation about abortion care, the people who provide and need abortion care, and what each ballot initiative would accomplish.

“When it comes to an election that will determine whether people are able to access basic reproductive health care, it is essential that voters have access to the big picture: the proven facts about abortion care from reputable sources and the stories of those for whom it has been an essential part of their lives. They should be able to make their voting decisions based on their values, their lived experiences, and accurate information.

“At the end of the day, releasing biased information about the ballot initiative or hindering people’s ability to learn about the human experience of abortion care should concern everyone. We strongly oppose efforts to manipulate people at the ballot box, and we urge people to demand protections for themselves and their neighbors and friends whose lives are affected by a lack of access to lifesaving and health-saving reproductive health care.”

More Information

• Visit our Election Guide to learn more about ACOG’s key advocacy issues so that you can vote with confidence this Election Day.

• Learn how you can use resources from Vot-ER—ACOG’s partner in getting out the vote—to help people register to vote and get empowered to have conversations with patients about voting.