Abortion defenders in Ohio are mobilizing to submit a constitutional amendment aimed at guaranteeing the right to abortion. This text aims to allow each individual to make their own decisions regarding abortion, contraception, fertility treatment and miscarriages.
This is an important issue for abortion supporters who seek to prevent the state from interfering in this personal decision. For their part, opponents believe that this text goes too far and that it would allow abortions at any stage of pregnancy, or even without parents being informed in the case of minors.
The issue of abortion returned to the states after the Supreme Court overturned the ruling guaranteeing the federal right to abortion. Since then, many U.S. states have restricted or banned abortion, while others have tightened it.
In Ohio, abortion advocates managed to gather hundreds of thousands of signatures to submit this constitutional amendment to the population. They seek to counter a current law that bans most abortions as soon as a heartbeat can be detected, often before the woman is aware of her pregnancy.
The Ohio vote is a test runoff that will be closely watched because it will show whether or not voters support abortion rights. Previous polls have revealed unexpected support for abortion, even in conservative states.
While awaiting the results, the question of abortion is occupying minds in other states as well. In Kentucky, the right to abortion has become an issue in the electoral campaign of Democratic Governor Andy Beshear, while in Virginia, legislative elections could allow new restrictions on abortion if the Republicans win.
Ohio will also vote on the legalization of cannabis during this vote. The results of these various ballots will provide information on the population’s opinions regarding abortion and could influence future laws and policies on the subject.
In conclusion, the right to abortion continues to generate intense debates and mobilizations across the United States. The results of the votes in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia will therefore be decisive for the future of this fundamental right for women.