Ohioans Head to the Polls to Vote on Abortion Rights Measure
Columbus, OH — Ohio voters head to the polls today to decide on a crucial ballot measure to secure their reproductive rights — the second major battleground state, after Michigan, to vote on a citizen-initiated abortion rights measure since the fall of Roe v. Wade.
Voting is underway for Issue 1, which would create a right to reproductive freedom in Ohio’s constitution. Issue 1 asserts that every individual in the state of Ohio has the constitutional right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.” Early voting for this election was outpacing the early vote turnout for Ohio’s recent August election.
“Today is Ohioans’ turn to stand up for their rights and defend abortion at the ballot,” said Fairness Project Executive Director Kelly Hall. “We are so proud of the Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights campaign’s incredible work over the past months to qualify this measure and ensure voters say YES to Issue 1. Ballot measures are one of the most powerful tools we have to expand and protect all forms of health care, and today is a great opportunity for voters to step up and secure their rights when politicians won’t.”
The Fairness Project has supported Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights throughout their effort to pass Issue 1, following its support for the successful citizen-initiated Michigan Reproductive Freedom for All campaign and the legislatively referred measure supported by Vermont for Reproductive Freedom. It is currently working to support Arizona for Abortion Access as it works to qualify a ballot measure in 2024. The Fairness Project also led the effort to defeat an attempt by anti-abortion extremists to end majority rule ahead of this November’s vote in Ohio. The defeat of that question paved the way for today’s election.