COLUMBUS, Ohio — Voters approved Issue 1 Tuesday night, a constitutional amendment to ensure access to abortion and reproductive health care in Ohio.
Ohio is now the seventh state where voters decided to protect abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year.
President Joe Biden, Mayor Andrew Ginther and other elected officials issued statements about the passing of Issue 1.
President Joe Biden
“Tonight, Americans once again voted to protect their fundamental freedoms – and democracy won. In Ohio, voters protected access to reproductive health in their state constitution. 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. This extreme and dangerous agenda is out-of-step with the vast majority of Americans. My Administration will continue to protect access to reproductive health care and call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law once and for all.”
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
“Tonight, Ohioans made it clear that women’s health care decisions should be between them and their doctors, not politicians. That’s what I’ve always believed and will continue to fight for in the U.S. Senate. 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.”
Mayor Andrew Ginther
“Ohio used our vote as our voice to silence a radical majority aimed at stripping our most basic freedom, bodily autonomy. The passage of Issue 1 shows once and for all that Ohioans demand a choice when it comes to health care, a choice that belongs between a woman and her doctor. Period. As a lifelong supporter of a woman’s right to choose, I know the results bring relief to many. I applaud Columbus neighbors, some who may have even put personal beliefs aside, for supporting Issue 1. By restoring and ensuring reproductive freedom for generations to come, we’ve made Columbus and all of Ohio a better place for all."
Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens
“As a 100% pro-life conservative, I remain steadfastly committed to protecting life, and that commitment is unwavering. The legislature has multiple paths that we will explore to continue to protect innocent life. This is not the end of the conversation.”
Protect Women Ohio
"Our hearts are broken tonight not because we lost an election, but because Ohio families, women and children will bear the brunt of this vote. When Michigan voters passed a similar amendment last year, they were sold the lie that parental rights would be unaffected, that late-term abortion would remain illegal, and that women’s health and safety standers would not be touched. But just last week, the Michigan legislature voted to repeal penalties for partial-birth abortions, to eliminate health and safety protections at abortion facilities, and they called parental consent laws 'unconstitutional.' They even vowed to come for informed consent laws and 24-hour waiting periods next. We know the same barbaric attacks on parents and children are now coming home to Ohio. But rest assured: 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. Ours is a movement that has always endured, and always will. Tomorrow, the work starts again as we fight to be a voice for the voiceless and advocate for women and parents. We know that Issue 1 does not represent Ohio values. It took $35 million in out-of-state funding and ads filled with fear and deceit to push through the most radical abortion agenda in the country. An agenda that will cement late-term abortion in our constitution, strip parents of their rights, and wipe out health and safety protections for women. This is not the Ohio way, and we are united in our fight against these extreme policies. We would like to thank Governor DeWine for his leadership – Ohio is a safer place with him at the helm. Our medical community, church leaders, the Catholic Conference and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America were invaluable partners in this fight, and together we will continue this critical work to protect Ohio families. We are just getting started."
Gov. Mike DeWine, who opposed Issue 1, has not issued a statement on the matter.