Abortion access in Ohio: Ohio voters will decide on November 7, 2023, whether to amend the state constitution to protect the right to abortion and other reproductive health care. Issue 1, or the Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative, is a ballot measure that would establish a state constitutional right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,” including decisions about abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care, and continuing pregnancy. The amendment would also allow the state to restrict abortion after fetal viability, except when “necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health”.
Why is Issue 1 on the ballot?
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Issue 1 is a response to the recent wave of anti-abortion legislation and litigation in Ohio and across the country. In 2023 alone, Ohio lawmakers introduced at least 10 bills that would restrict or ban abortion access in the state. One of them, Senate Bill 23, also known as the Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection Act, would prohibit abortion as early as six weeks of pregnancy, before many people know they are pregnant. The bill was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine in April 2023, but was blocked by a federal court pending a lawsuit.
Issue 1 supporters argue that the amendment is necessary to safeguard abortion rights in Ohio, especially in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear a case challenging Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, could potentially overturn or weaken Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that recognized a constitutional right to abortion nationwide. If Roe is overturned, states would have the authority to regulate or ban abortion as they see fit.
What are the arguments for and against Issue 1?
Proponents of Issue 1 say that the amendment would protect the dignity and autonomy of Ohioans to make their own reproductive choices without government interference. They claim that Issue 1 would ensure access to safe and legal abortion care for all people who need it, regardless of their income, race, gender identity, or geographic location. They also contend that Issue 1 would uphold the values of personal freedom and privacy that Ohioans cherish.
Opponents of Issue 1 say that the amendment would enshrine abortion as a fundamental right in the state constitution, making it virtually impossible to regulate or limit. They argue that Issue 1 would allow abortions for any reason at any stage of pregnancy, even after an unborn child can feel pain and survive outside the womb. They also assert that Issue 1 would violate the rights of unborn children and their parents, and undermine the sanctity of human life.
How will Issue 1 affect Ohioans?
If Issue 1 passes, abortion and other forms of reproductive health care will be protected in the state constitution from any current or future laws that would restrict or ban them. This means that Ohioans would have access to abortion services regardless of what happens at the federal level or in other states. However, Issue 1 would also limit the ability of the state legislature and the voters to enact any regulations or restrictions on abortion that they deem necessary or appropriate.
If Issue 1 fails, the fate of abortion access in Ohio will depend largely on the outcome of the legal challenges to the state’s existing abortion laws and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. If Roe v. Wade is overturned or weakened, Ohio could potentially enforce its six-week abortion ban or enact other laws that would severely limit or eliminate abortion access in the state. This could force many Ohioans to travel out of state or seek unsafe methods to end their pregnancies.
How can Ohioans vote on Issue 1?
Ohioans can vote on Issue 1 either by mail-in absentee ballot or in person at their polling place on November 7, 2023. To vote by mail-in absentee ballot, voters must request an absentee ballot application from their county board of elections by October 31, 2023. The completed application must be received by the board of elections by November 4, 2023. The absentee ballot must be postmarked by November 6, 2023, and received by November 17, 2023.
To vote in person, voters must bring a valid form of identification to their polling place on November 7, 2023. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters can find their polling place and check their registration status online at Ohio Secretary of State.
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