Ohio Approves Constitutional Amendment Protecting Abortion Rights

On Tuesday, Ohio voters approved an amendment to the state’s constitution protecting the right to an abortion and reproductive health services.

The vote comes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade, which guaranteed a woman’s right to an abortion nationwide.

The state’s constitutional amendment, Issue 1, will establish an “individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion.”

The amendment will protect healthcare providers who assist women with medical treatment and extend the stage of legal pregnancy termination.

The measure was approved 56.3% to 43.7%.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) supported the anti-abortion movement against Issue 1.

DeWine’s most recent ads were the first time he formally addressed the issue.

“Issue 1 is just not right for Ohio,” DeWine said in the ad.

The official website for the state legislature published a post about the amendment, claiming it would “legalize abortion on demand at any stage of pregnancy” and allow the “dismemberment of fully conscious children.”

In August, Ohio voters rejected a change to the state’s constitution, supported by Republicans, to raise the threshold for constitutional amendments to 60%.