Ohio Voters Get Abortion Rights into State Constitution
Ohio voters have voted to add abortion rights to their state constitution on Tuesday.
In a win for pro-choice campaigners in this conservative-leaning state, Ohio guaranteed access to abortion by passing a constitutional amendment.
Ohio’s measure, State Issue 1, passed with over 57% of voters backing it. Abortion rights activists widely see Ohio as the most challenging fight for pro-choice supporters so far, as Ohio is the first Republican-led state to debate changing its constitution to guarantee abortion rights.
Since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade last year, Ohio briefly had a six-week abortion ban. However, the courts halted it. Tuesday’s voting results should stop the ban from becoming law again.
“Abortion is healthcare.”
In a watch party, pro-choice supporters in Ohio celebrated the abortion rights result.
First to give a speech following the announced verdict, Lauren Blauvelt, co-chair of Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, said to the watch party, “Abortion is healthcare.”
President Joe Biden also praised the result, “Ohioans and voters across the country rejected attempts by Maga Republican elected officials to impose extreme abortion bans that put the health and lives of women in jeopardy, force women to travel hundreds of miles for care, and threaten to criminalize doctors and nurses for providing the healthcare that their patients need and that they are trained to provide.” He continued by saying, “This extreme and dangerous agenda is out of step with the vast majority of Americans.”
A leading group against the amendment, Protect Women Ohio, said, “Our hearts are broken tonight not because we lost an election, but because Ohio families, women, and children will bear the brunt of this vote.” Adding, “We stand ready during this unthinkable time to advocate for women and the unborn.”
Since September, the organization has reportedly raised nearly $10m (£8.1m).
The amendment will put in place “an individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment,” including care for miscarriage and contraception, as well as abortion. It bans “directly or indirectly burdening, penalizing or prohibiting abortion” before around 23 weeks of pregnancy, which is known as the viability period for abortion.
Pro-choice Progress for Kentucky and Virginia
In other traditionally Republican-leaning states, Kentucky and Virginia, Tuesday’s voting result gave abortion access progress.
In the southern state of Kentucky, voters re-elected Democratic Governor Andy Beshear, who attacked his Republican opponent’s strict anti-abortion campaign.
And in Virginia, leading up to the vote, Democrats had campaigned against Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s efforts to ban abortion after 15 weeks. On Tuesday, the Democrats won both legislative chambers’ control. This result is likely to stop Youngkin’s anti-abortion campaign from becoming legislation.
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