COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom and Protect Choice Ohio have filed a motion that could protect reproductive rights in the Ohio constitution.


What You Need To Know

  • Abortion rights groups have collected more than 700,000 signatures in an effort to protect reproductive freedom and abortion access in Ohio

  • Abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion groups share their conflicting views on this

  • The Secretary of State needs to determine if the signatures are valid and if there are enough before making it on the ballot

The move pledges to protect reproductive freedom and abortion access in Ohio by putting a constitutional amendment on the November 7th ballot.

They’ve collected more than 700,000 signatures to do so. That’s 300,000 more than they needed. Abortion rights advocates say it will give people a say when it comes to infertility treatment, contraception, and abortion.

However, anti-abortion groups are against it, claiming the whole effort is misleading. 

"What they did do, is they were telling people that all this language they did was protecting Roe V. Wade," said President of Ohio Right to Life Mike Gonidakis. "They never once explained that this would allow late-term abortion in our state constitution. Never once did they explain that this would get rid of parental consent all throughout the state of Ohio."

If the Secretary of State determines there are enough validated signatures, their proposal will make it on the ballot. 

In the meantime, anti-abortion advocates are working to educate people on the issues they believe this presents.