New Jersey woman wears ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ costume to vote, citing concern for women’s rights

Veronica McGrogan, a 50-year-old optician from Bloomfield, New Jersey, arrived at Bloomfield Middle School to vote on Election Day dressed in a scarlet robe and white bonnet, reminiscent of the costume from Hulu's The Handmaid’s Tale.

The attire, adapted from Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel, has become a symbol for women’s rights, particularly surrounding issues like abortion access.

McGrogan explained her decision to wear the costume, saying, “What this outfit means to me is my way of fighting back.” She voiced concerns that GOP candidate Donald Trump’s policies might threaten these rights. She also cited her unique family background, adding, “I have a blended family. I have a wife. I have a trans daughter. Everything [Trump’s supporters] are against, I kind of check all those lists,” McGrogan said, as reported by New York Post.

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

The New Jersey resident cast her vote for Kamala Harris, expressing hope that the Democratic candidate might offer the support and protection she feels is at risk. In New Jersey, which holds 14 electoral votes, President Biden won the 2020 election by a significant margin, securing 57.34% of the vote.