Pro-life supporters must be aware of a dangerous Ohio ballot measure that will be voted on November 7.
Voters will consider Issue 1 (different from the August 8 election of Issue 1), titled, “Ohio Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion,” which would legalize abortion in Ohio throughout all stages of a woman’s pregnancy and enshrine abortion as a so-called “right” in the state’s constitution.
Under current law, abortion is legal in Ohio until a preborn baby is 22 weeks old. Though Ohio has passed a Heartbeat Law that prohibits abortions after six weeks, that law is currently held up in the state’s court system.
But if Issue 1 is approved, it would permit the killing of preborn babies up until the moment of birth.
Issue 1 would “establish a state constitutional right to ‘make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,’ including decisions about abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care, and continuing pregnancy.”
It would “allow the state to restrict abortion after fetal viability, except when ‘necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.’”
Yet, exceptions for “health” are generally interpreted so broadly that the end result is the effective legalization of abortion up until birth.
If passed, this amendment would also destroy parental rights by permitting minors to receive abortions and transgender medical interventions without parental notification.
According to the independent pro-family group Protect Women Ohio that is working to defeat Issue 1,
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. Issue 1 would outlaw protections for the most vulnerable and would eliminate basic health and safety regulations in place to protect women.
The group recently warned about the dangerous consequences of Issue 1 on X, formerly known as Twitter:
With the misinformation coming from radical pro-abortion advocates it can be hard to know the truth about Issue 1.
That's why we will continue to share the harm this amendment would do to the great state of Ohio. pic.twitter.com/w4fgJ51sVE
— Protect Women Ohio (@ProtectWomenOH) September 15, 2023
The abortion lobby has committed to spending a staggering amount of money – a minimum of $35 million – to pass Issue 1.
To counter this flood of money donated by leftwing millionaires and billionaires, Protect Women Ohio will spend $25 million to defeat Issue 1.
Ohio’s Center for Christian Virtue (CCV), a Focus on the Family-allied state family policy council, says this amendment would lead to a loss of 30,000 babies every year to abortion in Ohio. For that reason, Focus on the Family strongly opposes Issue 1.
According to CCV,
The amendment would permanently legalize abortion up to birth – including gruesome partial-birth abortion, remove parental consent for minors to receive abortions, and outlaw hospital health and safety standards.
In November, Ohioans should vote “NO” on the proposed abortion amendment. Pro-life Ohioans must turn out and vote if they wish to defeat anti-life laws in Ohio.
In the lead up to the November 7 election, pro-life individuals must get engaged in this fight. Here’s how you can help:
First, if you’re in Ohio, please vote to protect preborn life by voting “No” on Issue 1 this November 7. Alternatively, early voting begins on October 11 which gives Ohioans the opportunity to vote early to protect life.
Second, please pray for the defeat of the Right to Make Reproductive Decisions initiative.
Third, Ohioans can pledge to vote to protect preborn children and their mothers by signing the Center for Christian Virtue’s pledge here. CCV also provides resources you can use to encourage others to vote against Issue 1 here.
Related article and resources:
Center for Christian Virtue: Pledge
Center for Christian Virtue: Resources
