In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, several states have launched campaigns to protect abortion rights. Ohio recently became one of these states, approving a measure to enshrine abortion rights in the State Constitution. The amendment, brought forward by Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom, and other reproductive rights advocacy groups, will protect abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care, and the right to continue one's own pregnancy under the Ohio Constitution.
The success of this campaign in Ohio has spurred similar movements in other states, including Florida. A coalition of groups, Floridians Protecting Freedom, has already collected over half of the nearly 900,000 petition signatures needed for a ballot measure to limit government interference with abortion before a fetus is considered viable.
However, the passage of the amendment in Ohio has not been without controversy. Some Ohio state Republicans have voiced concerns about the amendment's language, arguing that it is vague and could be used to attack parental rights or defend criminals. They have also raised questions about the funding of the campaign in favor of Issue 1, claiming, without evidence, that it was partly funded by foreign donations. In response to the passage of Issue 1, these lawmakers are proposing to limit state courts' authority to review cases related to the amendment.
Despite these controversies, the success of the abortion rights campaign in Ohio and the ongoing efforts in Florida highlight a broader national trend following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. As states grapple with the new legal landscape, the fight for reproductive rights continues to be a significant issue in American politics.