Ohio Considers Abortion Rights in Highly Anticipated Vote

Ohio voters will make a crucial decision on Tuesday regarding whether to add abortion rights to the state's constitution. This vote is seen as a significant test to determine if abortion rights will remain a winning issue in the upcoming 2024 elections. In the past, pro-choice supporters have achieved victories through several votes after the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to abortion last year. Recent polls indicate that a majority of Ohioans plan to vote in favor of the abortion amendment. However, Issue 1 in Ohio is considered the toughest fight thus far for supporters of abortion rights. While access to abortion has prevailed in all six previous ballot measures since Roe v Wade was overturned, Ohio is the first Republican-led state to consider explicitly guaranteeing the right to abortion in its constitution. If passed, the amendment would establish the right to make and carry out reproductive decisions, including on abortion. Similar to the standard set by Roe v Wade, Ohio would prohibit abortion after the point of viability, around 23 weeks of pregnancy, unless it is necessary to protect life or health as determined by the patient's doctor. Opponents of the amendment have focused on the provision of late-term abortions, utilizing this misleading term to sway voters. However, proponents of Issue 1 stress that any abortions later in pregnancy would require approval from a medical professional under serious health concerns. They argue that the government should not interfere in personal medical decisions. Ohio currently allows abortions until 22 weeks of pregnancy. If Issue 1 fails, it could pave the way for a six-week ban that is currently awaiting review by Ohio's conservative Supreme Court. A ban on abortion in Ohio, one of the few Midwest states where the procedure is still legal, would further limit access for individuals in neighboring states such as Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky, where abortion is already outlawed. The outcome in Ohio will also provide insight into voters' opinions on abortion over a year after the overturning of Roe v Wade. While a decisive passage of the ballot initiative would confirm strong voter sentiment, it does not necessarily imply that abortion is a priority issue for them. Despite the majority of Ohio voters supporting Issue 1 according to polls, a recent survey from Ohio Northern University suggests that the specific ballot language, particularly the phrase "unborn child," might decrease support for the amendment. Pro-choice advocates were disappointed when an Ohio court allowed the term to remain in the ballot language. Consequently, voters will now see a summary approved by Ohio's Republican Secretary of State instead of the actual amendment, claiming that Issue 1 would enable the abortion of an unborn child at any stage of pregnancy, regardless of viability. Nonetheless, Ohio's previous vote on Issue 1 earlier this year offers some comfort to pro-choice supporters. During that special election, Republicans proposed a constitutional amendment to make future amendments more challenging to pass. Their motive was ostensibly to safeguard the state constitution from external interference, but critics contended it was a ploy to alter the playing field prior to the imminent abortion vote. The measure failed, suggesting that supporters of abortion rights may have an advantage. Polls will close at 7:30 PM local time (12:30 AM GMT on Wednesday).