In a historic decision, Ohio voters have overwhelmingly approved Issue 1, a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to abortion and various forms of reproductive healthcare. The amendment is set to take effect in just 30 days, marking a significant victory for pro-choice advocates. This development comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn abortion rights nationwide, making Ohio the seventh state to protect abortion access.
Ohio’s Stand for Reproductive Rights
Issue 1 represents a groundbreaking move for reproductive rights in Ohio. It grants state residents the freedom to make their own reproductive decisions, including those concerning abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care, and continuing pregnancy. Notably, the amendment also permits the state to restrict abortion after fetal viability, with exceptions made only when it’s necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.
Ohio’s existing abortion laws allow the procedure up to 22 weeks, but a 2019 law, which banned abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected (typically around four weeks), presented significant restrictions with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. The legal battle against this law is ongoing, with a temporary injunction in place.
Governor Mike DeWine, who had signed the 2019 bill, took a prominent role opposing Issue 1. His campaign included misleading statements, with his wife falsely claiming that the amendment would allow abortions at any stage of pregnancy. DeWine also promised to press for rape and incest exceptions to the fetal heartbeat law if legislators didn’t act, leaving voters with an uncertain future.
Obstacles and Controversies
Anti-abortion advocates in Ohio employed various tactics to thwart Issue 1. They attempted to raise the threshold needed to pass a ballot measure from a simple majority to 60%, but the measure failed with 57% of voters opposing it. Additionally, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose faced criticism for crafting ballot text that used inflammatory language and misrepresentation of the amendment’s impact.
The state Supreme Court, led by a judge with ties to Governor DeWine, allowed the misleading text to stand despite pro-choice groups’ protests. Furthermore, LaRose’s office conducted a secretive voter purge, canceling the registrations of nearly 27,000 inactive voters without public announcement. These actions were seen as attempts to influence the election in favor of anti-abortion candidates, including LaRose himself, who was running in the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat.
Transphobia and Misinformation
Transphobia was also employed as a strategy to defeat Issue 1. Misleading ads suggested that supporters of the amendment aimed to promote sex changes and eliminate parental consent, allegations that were not grounded in reality. State Rep. Gary Click even spread false claims about a 10-year-old rape victim, alleging that the amendment would enable similar cases. Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) intervened to correct these misrepresentations.
Despite these challenges, Ohio’s resounding approval of Issue 1 showcases a significant win for reproductive rights and pro-choice advocates. The victory sends a clear message to Republicans pushing for stricter abortion regulations in the upcoming 2024 national elections, as voters appear to disapprove of further restrictions on abortion access even in a swing state like Ohio. The outcome may also energize reproductive rights advocates to play a crucial role in the 2024 presidential elections, influencing the fate of LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion candidates.