On Tuesday, voters in Ohio will head to the polls to vote for a measure that could establish a constitutional right to an abortion in the state.
The measure titled Issue 1, would establish a constitutional right to an abortion would "establish in the Constitution of the State of Ohio an individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion" and "create legal protections for any person or entity that assists a person with receiving reproductive medical treatment.”
If a “no” vote prevails, then the current restrictions on abortion remain intact, per Fox News.
According to the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Ohio is one of 25 states that have implemented pro-life protections after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade last year, returning the issue of abortion up to the states. Although Ohio approved a law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, the measure currently faces litigation, The Christian Post reports.
According to ABC News, Ohio is the only state to tackle a statewide abortion-rights question this year, including funding tens of millions of dollars in campaign spending, rallies in favor or in opposition to the amendment, and months of promotion and messaging across social media platforms.
In 2024, abortion-related measures will be on the ballot for several other states, including Arizona, Missouri, and Florida.
Based on public polling, two-thirds of Americans are in favor of legal abortion during the early stages of pregnancy.
Regarding Ohio Issue 1, a poll conducted by Ohio Northern University found that 60 percent of Ohioans plan to vote on the measure while 40 percent plan to vote against it. Meanwhile, a survey conducted by Baldwin Wallace University found that 58 percent of registered voters expressed support for issue one while 34 percent opposed it.
If voted on, then Ohio becomes the fourth state to have established a constitutional right to an abortion after Roe V. Wade was overturned. Following last year’s election, California, Michigan, and Vermont voted on measures similar to Issue 1.
Late last month, officials with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America warned that pro-abortion advocacy groups are working to vote on referendums establishing a constitutional right to abortion in states with strong pro-life restrictions, including Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/Alex Wong / Staff
Video Courtesy: WKYC Channel 3 via YouTube
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
