Ohio’s Constitutional Amendment for Reproductive Rights
Ohio is set to become the newest state to constitutionally protect reproductive rights, according to projections by CNN. This move is part of a successful trend for advocates of abortion rights following the reversal of Roe v. Wade. The approval of the ballot measure, Issue 1, will prohibit Ohio from limiting abortion access prior to fetal viability, which medical professionals estimate to be between 22 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. Post-viability, the state can impose restrictions on abortion access, unless the patient’s life or health is in jeopardy.
Abortion Access: A Key Issue for Voters Across Party Lines
The vote is a clear indication that access to abortion is a crucial issue for voters across the political spectrum, even in a state like Ohio, which has leaned Republican in recent elections. Mini Timmaraju, the president of Reproductive Freedom for All, an abortion rights organization, stated, “Abortion access isn’t merely a winning issue with voters; it’s a fundamental right that influences every facet of their lives. Ohioans have now constitutionally secured this right, and the nation is observing.”
Setback for Abortion Opponents
This development is a setback for state and national opponents of abortion, who had hoped that their investment in the off-year election would reverse the trend after losing several abortion-related ballot initiatives in 2022. Despite the defeat, abortion opponents in Ohio pledged to continue their fight. They attributed their loss to the influx of millions in external funds into the state and the ad campaign run by supporters of Issue 1. Despite being financially outmatched, both sides received support from across the country.
Continued Advocacy for Women and Unborn
“We stand prepared during this unimaginable time to advocate for women and the unborn, just as we have always done,” stated Protect Women Ohio, the primary group opposing the ballot initiative. “We persevered for 50 years to overturn Roe v Wade. Ours is a movement that has always endured, and always will.”
Debate Over Ohio’s Six-Week Abortion Ban
The focal point of the debate over Issue 1 was Ohio’s six-week abortion ban, which was halted by a court last year but is under consideration by the state Supreme Court. Advocates for abortion rights contended that the only way to halt the law, which does not provide exceptions for victims of rape or incest, was to approve Issue 1. In contrast, opponents of abortion argued that the measure was excessive and would prevent the state from passing a consensus bill with exceptions.
Republican Governor’s Opposition to Issue 1
Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who enacted the six-week ban, campaigned vigorously against Issue 1 and released an ad urging Ohioans to vote against it. In August, Ohio voters rejected a measure that would have increased the threshold for passing ballot initiatives to amend the state constitution from a simple majority to 60%. This measure was perceived as an attempt to obstruct the abortion rights amendment, and its defeat was interpreted as a sign that the fall amendment would be approved.
Voters’ Sentiments on Overturning Roe v. Wade
According to preliminary results of CNN’s Ohio exit poll, approximately 60% of voters who participated in Tuesday’s election expressed negative sentiments about the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. About 30% said abortion should be legal in all cases, and roughly a third opined that it should be legal in most cases.
This report has been updated with additional information. CNN’s Ariel Edwards-Levy contributed to this report.