Republicans in Ohio are persistently pushing forward with their anti-choice agenda, despite the recent defeat of a ballot initiative aimed at making it harder to pass a pro-choice constitutional amendment. But their efforts have faced controversy as the Ohio Ballot Board, led by anti-choice advocate and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, approved language for the upcoming pro-choice initiative that may confuse voters.
The approved summary language substitutes “unborn child” for “fetus” and fails to include any mention of the right to make decisions about miscarriages, fertility treatments or contraception, which are integral to the proposed amendment. Furthermore, the approved summary language is longer than the original provided by pro-choice organizations, eliminating the board’s justification for trimming the summary on the ballots.
Screenshots comparing the original summary language and the newly-approved language clearly demonstrate the changes made. LaRose, in a Thursday meeting, defended the approved language as fair and accurate. However, pro-choice advocates argue that the language is intentionally vague and misleading.
Abortion is currently legal in Ohio up to 22 weeks of pregnancy, but a temporarily blocked six-week abortion ban is awaiting a ruling from the Republican-dominated Ohio Supreme Court. The proposed constitutional amendment aims to prevent the state from banning abortion before fetal viability, usually around 22 to 24 weeks. LaRose cast the deciding vote in the 3-2 final vote to approve the language.
The actions of LaRose and the ballot board do not alter the meaning or intent of the actual constitutional amendment, which will be fully available at polling locations on voting day. Nonetheless, only the summary language will appear on the ballots.
Abortion rights advocates, including Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, had requested that the ballot language accurately reflect the full constitutional amendment to ensure transparency and clarity. They argued that voters should be able to see the language they are being asked to approve in order to make an informed decision.
Adding to the confusion, the pro-choice constitutional amendment will also be referred to as Issue 1, the same designation used for the August special election on raising the vote threshold.
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