“Every Individual Has a Right To Make and Carry Out One’s Own Reproductive Decisions”: Ohioans Reject MAGA Republican Abortion Ban

Jo ShawNov 9, 2023

Minute Read

In a recent vote, Ohio has passed a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at safeguarding abortion rights. This amendment, known as Issue 1, introduced Section 22 into Article I of the Ohio Constitution. The New York Times reported that 56.3% of Ohioans supported Issue 1, with 95% of the votes counted This outcome comes amidst a nationwide struggle over women’s reproductive rights, marking a significant win for abortion rights advocates, especially in the aftermath of the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last year.

Ohio Votes Yes to Issue 1

Ohioans voted “yes” in favor of Issue 1, which will amend the Ohio Constitution, establishing the right for Ohioans to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to” decisions regarding abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care, and the continuation of pregnancy.

Voting No Would Have Opposed Amendments

Voting “no” would have opposed amendments to the Ohio Constitution to establish a constitutional right for individuals to “make and carry out their own reproductive decisions.”

Three PACs Lead the Campaign

The campaign supporting Issue 1 was spearheaded by three political action committees: Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom, Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, and Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights. These committees collectively amassed a total of $41.7 million in contributions.

The Ohio Republican Party Opposed Issue 1.

The initiative faced opposition from various organizations, including the Ohio Republican Party and Ohio Right to Life. In response to Issue 1, Protect Women Ohio had previously voiced their concerns, “Using the label ‘reproductive freedom,’ the abortion industry wants to bring taxpayer-funded abortion at any time during pregnancy, including beyond the point at which an unborn baby can feel pain, to Ohio.”

The Right to Reproductive Freedom

The amendment, titled, “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety,” mandates “Every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions.”

Prohibits Interference and Discrimination

Furthermore, Ohio State will not be permitted to “directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against” those rights until the point of “fetal viability.”

Politicians Should Not Make Women’s Healthcare Decisions

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Responding to the vote, US Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown said, “Tonight, Ohioans made it clear that women’s health care decisions should be between them and their doctors, not politicians.”

Sen. Brown Standing With the People of Ohio

“My opponents disagree and have made it clear they would overrule Ohioans by voting for a national abortion ban. While my opponents work to ban abortion, I will continue fighting for and standing with the people of Ohio,” Brown declared.

Biden Rejects MAGA’s Extreme Abortion Bans

President Biden also commented on Ohio’s vote, stating, “Ohioans and voters across the country rejected attempts by MAGA Republican elected officials to impose extreme abortion bans that put the health and lives of women in jeopardy, force women to travel hundreds of miles for care, and threaten to criminalize doctors and nurses for providing the health care that their patients need and that they are trained to provide.”

MAGA’s Extreme and Dangerous Agenda

Biden concluded his statement by saying, the Republican’s “extreme and dangerous agenda” was “out-of-step with the vast majority of Americans.”

A Great Victory

Ohio Democratic Party chair Elizabeth Walters called the vote “a great victory for women and families across the state. While corrupt, out-of-touch politicians once again tried to strip Ohioans of their fundamental rights, Ohio voters told these politicians that we won’t go back. For the second time this year, Ohioans sent a message loud and clear, and we hope that their elected officials will finally listen.”

Ohio Black Faith: Abortion Industry a Depraved Legacy

However, many objected to the outcome. Ohio Black Faith and Community Leaders wrote an open letter, stating, “We can only hope the abortion industry will one day be held to account for its dark history and depraved legacy, but in the meantime, we cannot allow it to continue pushing an agenda driven by racism and greed,”

Robbing Black Women of the Joy of Parenthood

The letter further stated, “It will permit our children to undergo abortions without parents knowing. And it will continue to rob generations of Black women and men of the insurmountable joy of parenthood.”

Republicans Tried to Prevent the Approval

Following the approval of the issue to appear on the ballot, certain state lawmakers attempted to employ tactics to circumvent its approval. Advocates of the amendment criticized Republican officials, alleging that the wording on the ballot was deliberately designed to be misleading.

“A Radical Proposal”

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine called a vote on reproductive rights on the ballot a “radical proposal” a few days before Ohioans were due to vote.

“It Does Not Fit Ohio”

GOP Gov. DeWine told CBS News, “If you look at Issue 1, it’s a radical proposal, and whether you’re pro-choice or pro-life, it just goes much, much too far. It is a radical proposal and does not fit Ohio.”

Ohio Women Will Get the Care They Deserve

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Founder of Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, Dr. Marcela Azevedo, stated, “The impact of passing Issue 1 will be felt throughout the state and for generations and generations to come. She further stated, “Because Ohioans stood up, from now on, the people of Ohio will get the care that they deserve.”

Pro-life Movement Is More United Than Ever

Protect Women Ohio released a statement after the vote on X (Twitter), stating, “The pro-life movement is more united than ever. We stand ready during this unthinkable time to advocate for women and the unborn, just as we have always done. We persevered for 50 years to overturn Roe v Wade,”

Ohio Is Safer With DeWine at the Helm

The statement continued, “We would like to thank Governor DeWine for his leadership. Ohio is a safer place with him at the helm.”

Republicans Should Take Note

People discussed the results online, one user posted, “And it wasn’t even close. I’d say Republicans should take note of this, but they won’t. Hopefully, the pending ballot measures coming up in SC and FL have the same success.” Another stated, “Notice that the Ohio Republicans tried to change the laws so this could not be voted on. When they cannot win, they try to cheat the electorate.”