Ohio Voters Approve State Constitutional Amendment to Ensure Abortion Access
This comes after Ohio put forth a bill to ban abortions after six weeks last year, which was later blocked by a judge
AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
Issue 1 voters cheer as election results come inOhio is the latest state to enshrine rights to reproductive care in its state constitution following the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year, according to several news outlets.
On Tuesday, Ohio residents voted to approve a constitutional amendment ensuring protections to abortion and other forms of reproductive health care, according to the Associated Press.
In an NBC News exit poll, liberal and Black voters led the charge in approving the amendment, with 94% and 84%, respectively, saying that they would vote to approve the amendment. Just behind them were voters under the age of 30 and female voters under the age of 45. Over 50% of votes were needed to approve or deny the amendment, per NBC News.
With the approval of the constitutional amendment, an individual’s right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,” will be protected under Ohio law. The state will be unable to pass any laws to restrict abortions prior to fetal viability, which is at about 22-24 weeks of pregnancy, according to CNN.
Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A handwritten Issue 1 sign outside a polling location in Toledo, Ohio, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Ohioans are considering a proposed amendment, called Issue 1, to prevent the state from interfering with reproductive decisions, including contraception, while allowing abortion bans with exceptions after fetal viability.Last year, Ohio put forth a bill to ban abortions after six weeks — when fetal cardiac activity is detected, but before many women are aware of their pregnancy. However, a judge issued a preliminary injunction, blocking the ban from taking effect. Several other states, like Iowa, have enacted six-week abortion bans.
AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
President Joe Biden praised Ohio voters’ decision in a statement Tuesday night saying, “Tonight, Americans once again voted to protect their fundamental freedoms – and democracy won.”
“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 health care that their patients need and that they are trained to provide,” he continued.
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Two opponents to Issue 1 hug after hearing the proposal had passedRelated: 10-Year-Old Ohio Girl Travels to Indiana for Abortion After SCOTUS Overturns 'Roe v. Wade'
“This extreme and dangerous agenda is out-of-step with the vast majority of Americans. My Administration will continue to protect access to reproductive health care and call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law once and for all,” Biden said concluding his statement.
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However, some state lawmakers vowed to continue to fight against the results, including Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens who told the AP that the approval of the amendment “is not the end of the conversation.”
“As a 100% pro-life conservative, I remain steadfastly committed to protecting life, and that commitment is unwavering,” Stephens said. “The Legislature has multiple paths that we will explore to continue to protect innocent life.”
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