Ohio voters have spoken, and they have spoken loudly in favor of abortion rights. Issue 1, which would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, passed with more than 57% of the vote. This is a major victory for abortion rights supporters in the only state where abortion is on the ballot this November.
The passage of Issue 1 is a direct repudiation of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last year. That decision sent the issue of abortion back to the states, and many states have since passed or are considering passing bans on abortion. Ohio already has a six-week abortion ban on the books, but it is currently on hold due to a court challenge. The passage of Issue 1 is likely to prevent the six-week ban from being reinstated.
The vote on Issue 1 was not without its controversy. Abortion opponents spent millions of dollars on advertising that claimed Issue 1 would lead to minors being able to get abortions without their parents’ knowledge. They also claimed that Issue 1 would allow gender-affirming care to be performed on minors without their parents’ consent. Legal experts have said that these claims are false.
Despite the false advertising, voters overwhelmingly supported Issue 1. This suggests that there is strong public support for abortion rights in Ohio. A recent poll found that 63% of Ohioans believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
The passage of Issue 1 is a major victory for abortion rights supporters, but it is not the end of the fight. Abortion opponents are already planning to challenge the constitutionality of Issue 1 in court. They are also likely to continue to introduce and support legislation that would restrict access to abortion.
The fight for abortion rights is still far from over, but Ohio voters have sent a clear message that they support abortion rights and that they will not stand for their rights being taken away.