Abortion rights groups in Ohio have submitted over 700,000 signatures in an effort to put a measure on the November 7 ballot that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. The minimum requirement to place a ballot measure is 413,446 signatures, which will be certified by the state’s secretary of state to ensure there are no duplicates or errors by July 25.
The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to establish “a fundamental right to reproductive freedom” with “reasonable limits.” It aligns with the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, allowing abortion up to the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb, typically around 24 weeks into a pregnancy. The language of the amendment has already been approved by the state’s ballot board and attorney general.
In a joint statement, Lauren Blauvelt and Kellie Copeland of Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom stated, “Today, we take a significant step forward in the fight for abortion access and reproductive freedom for all, ensuring that Ohioans and their families can make their own health care decisions without government interference.”
Last year, Ohio passed a “heartbeat” abortion ban following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. However, a state court halted the enforcement of the law. During the period when the ban was in effect, a 10-year-old rape victim had to go to Indiana to seek an abortion because Ohio’s ban did not have exceptions for rape or incest. The law does, however, provide exceptions for the health of the pregnant woman and cases of ectopic pregnancies.
While abortion remains legal in Ohio up to 22 weeks due to the injunction, the Ohio Supreme Court may potentially reinstate the ban. Simultaneously, Republican lawmakers are attempting to change the state’s rules for ballot measures that have been in place for over a century, which could threaten the success of the abortion rights measure. A court has recently allowed an August special election to proceed, where lawmakers can raise the threshold for all future measures to a 60 percent supermajority. Advocates for abortion rights argue that this measure was specifically designed to make it more challenging for voters to pass their amendment. In August, the measure will require a simple majority of 50 percent plus 1 to raise the threshold for all future elections.
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