Ohio voters added reproductive rights to the state constitution Tuesday by passing Issue 1, as the pro-choice movement continued its post-Dobbs winning streak.
Ohio voters added reproductive rights to the state constitution Tuesday by passing Issue 1, as the pro-choice movement continued its post-Dobbs winning streak.
45 initiative, labeled the Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative, led by 55% to 41% with about 85% of the vote counted, and major news organizations called the race around 9 p.m.
The measure says the state “shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against” individuals seeking abortions, contraception, and other reproductive-related medical services.
Abortion may be limited after fetal viability, or about 22 weeks’ gestation, but any post-viability restrictions may be overridden by the treating doctor “to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health,” the latter of which typically includes mental health.
Jor-El Godsey, president of the pro-life group Heartbeat International, said after the outcome was declared that “Big Abortion won, while women, parents, and babies lost.”
“Women lost common-sense protections. Parents have lost the ability to be involved in a key, and dangerous, component of their child’s medical and emotional health.
