As Election Day nears, women’s groups are voicing their opinions on issues.

With 143 million females in the United States, according to a 2000 U.S. Census Bureau report, their concerns are a large part of the election. Women make up 50.9 percent of the population. Some issues that have come to the forefront of women’s concerns include sex education, abortion and birth control.

“I believe that the reproductive and women’s health issues are at the forefront of our concerns and there is considerable difference between the two parties and where they stand,” said Karla Peterson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood, Champaign.

During his first term, President Bush signed the approval for laws such as the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act and the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. His stance on women’s issues for the upcoming election includes preventing federal funding for abortions, defending the Partial Birth Abortion Ban and supporting abstinence-based sex education, according to the Web site georgewbush.com.

Senator John Kerry, on the other hand, supports a woman’s right to an abortion and mandates that insurance companies cover contraception, according to the Web site johnkerry.com. Senator Kerry is also against the Partial Birth Abortion Ban and the appoinment of Supreme Court Justices who are anti-abortion.

Peterson said she encourages women to look at the issues and the two platforms when making their decision.

She feels that this election could impact women’s rights in general because many issues that directly impact women are potentially at stake.

“(The election) is critically important … This is probably one of the most important elections we will have in our lifetime,” Peterson said.

Melissa Murphy, president of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and senior in LAS, is researching the voting records of President Bush and Senator Kerry. She said she feels abortion rights and sex education are two big women’s issues in the election.

With the recent ban of third-term abortions, which is when the fetus is aborted during the women’s third trimester, Murphy said the issue should be addressed.

“If you’re going to ban third-term abortions, the government should give other options,” Murphy said.

Murphy is also concerned with the changes in sex education because she said President Bush favors abstinence-based sex education.

“(Bush) took money out of the sex education fund and put it in the abstinence-based sex education fund,” Murphy said. “People should not be scared of sex.”

Megan Kough, a member of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and sophomore in LAS, said the ban of partial birth abortions is the first step toward reversing Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court decision that protects a woman’s right to have an abortion.

Kough described herself as a one-issue voter and cares strongly about a woman’s right to choose.

The Unborn Victims of Violence Act is another step toward reversing Roe v. Wade, Kough said. The act, passed in response to the Laci Peterson murder, treats the fetus as a viable person, making it a double homicide to murder a pregnant woman.

Kough said she feels the name of the act is emotionally charged and helps give the fetus more importance. She feels the name should be changed.

Kough is also against the Hyde Amendment, which took away Medicare funding for abortions. Kough said abortions should be covered because they are a medical procedure.

Joanna Kepler, junior in engineering, said she is concerned about the election. As president of Illini Collegians for Life and a pro-life advocate, Kepler said abortion is the issue most important to her because she believes women should not have to choose between having an abortion or not. Kepler said there should be more information and resources for women who choose to give birth.

Kepler said she feels that this election comes at a pivotal time. The Pro-Life movement has made a lot of headway, she added.

“If a Pro-Life candidate is elected, I could see potential for Roe v. Wade being reversed,” Kepler said.