Ohio votes to enshrine abortion rights in state constitution

A significant win for pro-choice activists in the state occurred on Tuesday when Ohio voters approved the inclusion of abortion rights in the state constitution.

CBS News, the US partner of the BBC, has projected a decisive victory for Ohio’s constitutional amendment known as Issue 1. Early returns indicated that nearly 58% of voters in the conservative-leaning state had supported the amendment.

This victory is seen as a boost for Democrats who consider abortion rights to be a winning issue ahead of the 2024 elections. The amendment’s success extends a streak of ballot measures aimed at protecting abortion rights since the Supreme Court revoked the nationwide right to abortion last year. It marks the seventh such measure to pass.

Ohio’s Issue 1 was considered the toughest fight for abortion rights supporters because it was the first time a Republican-led state considered amending its constitution to explicitly guarantee the right to abortion. Supporters warned that without the amendment, more restrictive laws, including a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy with no exceptions, could be introduced. Currently, abortion is legal in Ohio until 22 weeks of pregnancy.

Opponents argued that the amendment would allow late-term abortions that are currently illegal. Pro-choice supporters celebrated with emotional gatherings as media outlets projected the amendment’s passage.

One of the leading groups that opposed the amendment, Protect Women Ohio, had reportedly raised nearly $10 million (£8.1 million) since September. In a statement, the group expressed disappointment in the vote’s outcome and pledged to continue advocating for women and the unborn.