A New Jersey woman wears a “Handmaid's Tale” costume while voting, citing her concern for women's rights

Veronica McGrogan, a 50-year-old optometrist from Bloomfield, New Jersey, came to Bloomfield Middle School on Election Day to vote. She wore a scarlet robe and white bonnet, reminiscent of the costume from Hulu's “The Handmaid's Tale.”

The clothing, adapted from Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, has become a symbol of women's rights, particularly around issues such as abortion access.

Explaining her decision to wear the costume, McGrogan said, “This outfit, to me, represents my way of fighting back.” She expressed concerns that Republican candidate Donald Trump's policies could threaten those rights. She also referenced her unique family background, adding, “I have a blended family. I have a wife. I have a trans daughter. “Everyone (Trump’s supporters) are against it, I kind of check all those lists,” McGrogan said, as reported by the New York Post.

Emotionally, she remarked, “I am emotional because this is not a film, a series, a show. This is actually reality.” Clutching her robe, McGrogan added, “I could wake up tomorrow and this might not be a costume. This could be a reality.”

The New Jersey resident voted for Kamala Harris, expressing hope that the Democratic nominee could provide the support and protections she believes are at risk. In New Jersey, which has 14 electoral votes, President Biden won the 2020 election by a wide margin, securing 57.34% of the vote.