In Ohio, voters will decide on Issue 1 on Nov. 7, 2023. Issue 1 would establish a state constitutional right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,” including abortion, contraception, and other reproductive matters. Issue 1 would allow the state to restrict abortion after fetal viability, except when “necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.”
Ohio Issue 1 is the fourth ballot measure to propose a state constitutional right to an abortion. In 2022, voters in three other states—California, Michigan, and Vermont—approved ballot measures providing a state constitutional right to an abortion. These votes followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which found there is no federal constitutional right to abortion, thus overruling Roe v. Wade.
Between 1970 and Nov. 2022, voters decided on 53 abortion-related ballot measures. Most—43 (81)—of them had the support of organizations that described themselves as pro-life. Voters approved 11 (26%) and rejected 32 (74%) of these measures. Ten (19%) received the support of organizations describing themselves as pro-choice or pro-reproductive rights. Voters approved seven (70%) and rejected three (30%) of these measures.
