COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — As the election approaches, anti-abortion groups in Ohio are strategically using SEO techniques to influence public opinion on a reproductive rights measure. They are focusing on the term “partial-birth abortions,” even though it has been illegal in the U.S. for over 15 years. By emphasizing this term in ads, debates, and public statements, the opposition campaign and top Republicans aim to create fear and opposition to the constitutional amendment, known as Issue 1, which will be voted upon on Nov. 7. However, “partial-birth abortion” is a non-medical term for a procedure called dilation and extraction (D&X), which is already federally prohibited.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and other top Republicans are falsely claiming that Issue 1 would allow partial-birth abortions. However, constitutional scholars argue that the amendment would not override the existing federal ban. They explain that the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause ensures that federal laws take precedence over state laws, making it a federal crime for a doctor to violate the ban. Despite this fact, DeWine and other Republicans continue to spread misinformation about the amendment.
The debate over the constitutional amendment in Ohio is not happening in isolation. Anti-abortion groups have been using the state as a testing ground for their campaigns, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion. Additionally, abortion rights supporters plan to bring the abortion issue before voters in several more states next year.
The D&X procedure, also known as partial-birth abortion, involves dilating the cervix and extracting the fetus feet-first, before puncturing the head and compressing the skull to facilitate the removal of the fetus. Before the federal ban, this procedure was used for both abortions and miscarriages in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Governor DeWine claims that the amendment would change the applicability of the federal law he once supported. However, constitutional experts argue that this claim is baseless, as the Supreme Court has already declared the federal ban constitutional. It is clear that DeWine and other Republicans are using scare tactics to mislead voters.
The campaign against Issue 1 also includes misleading ads that stigmatize abortion. Anti-abortion groups are using terms like “partial-birth abortion” and “late-term abortion” without explaining that they are non-medical terms coined by anti-abortion advocates. These ads fail to mention the federal ban and falsely attribute painful procedures to doctors like Dr. Martin Haskell, who pioneered the D&X procedure.
Pro-choice advocates argue that talking about “late-term” and “partial-birth” abortions is a scare tactic. They emphasize that Issue 1 allows for clear restrictions on abortion after viability to ensure the health and safety of patients. They also point out that late-term abortions are incredibly rare and heartbreaking for families.
The statistics show that Ohio has very few abortions performed after 25 weeks’ gestation. In fact, there have only been four recorded since 2013. Abortions between 21 and 24 weeks’ gestation, which are within the current legal limits in Ohio, make up only 0.6% of the total.
While anti-abortion groups try to manipulate public opinion with misleading and fear-inducing tactics, it is crucial for voters to be informed about the facts and understand the implications of Issue 1 on reproductive rights in Ohio.
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