Washington, D.C. – On August 8, Ohio will hold a special election to vote on a provision that would raise the threshold for approving state constitutional amendments. If successful, this would make it more difficult for voters in the state to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution during the state’s November election.
It has been 14 months since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and gutted abortion access for millions of women across the United States. While the fight for reproductive freedom largely centers on state officials for the time being, ballot initiatives across several states have clearly shown that many Americans believe that abortion should be legal. A new CAP column details what to know about the upcoming Ohio special election and abortion access:
- A ballot measure set for a vote in November would codify access to abortion in Ohio’s constitution: If it passes, the amendment would guarantee an individual’s right to carry out one’s own reproductive decisions including contraception, fertility treatment, continuing pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.
- Prominent opponents of abortion are hoping the August 8 special election will make that measure harder to pass: Ohio’s special election to raise the threshold for passing a constitutional amendment would make it more difficult for voters to protect abortion rights, which some state officials have openly admitted as being their goal.
“States criminalizing abortion and are out of step with the majority of Americans. This has been demonstrated in the success of reproductive rights measures that have been voted into law in states across the country with broad, bipartisan support,” said Becca Damante, senior policy analyst and author of the column.
Read the column: “What to Know About Ohio’s August Special Election and Abortion Access” by Becca Damante
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sarah Nadeau at [email protected].