Buckeye Reporter

A representative for Vote Catholic Ohio said that passage of Issue 1 in the August 8 special election is the "best strategy" to prevent a proposed abortion-expansion amendment from being added to the state Constitution in the November election.

“If abortion is added to the Ohio Constitution this November, 30,000 Ohio children will be killed by abortion every year into the future,” Naomi del Guidice, the organizations' state director for Catholic outreach, told Buckeye Reporter. “Passing Issue 1 on August 8 is our best strategy to protect the preborn and prevent abortion from being added to the Ohio Constitution.”

“Our Lady of Fatima predicted today’s battle over the family and implored us to pray the Holy Rosary daily to defend against the evil of our times,” del Guidice said. “It is imperative that we unite in person to pray for the preborn, our families, and our state, and vote YES on Issue 1 on August 8th.”

This past Tuesday, a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would expand access to abortion officially reached the necessary number of signatures for the measure to be placed on the ballot in November. 

A recent USA Today/Suffolk University poll of likely Ohio voters showed that 58% of voters support the proposed abortion amendment.  

Issue 1, the ballot initiative mentioned by del Guidice, would raise the threshold necessary to pass an amendment to Ohio's State Constitution from 50%+1 to 60%. It would also require signatures gathered to support amendments to include voters from all 88 of Ohio's counties and restrict "do-overs" on signature submissions, which would give signature-gatherers one chance to properly obtain signatures for a proposed amendment.

If Issue 1 is passed on August 8, the abortion amendment would have to reach 60% to pass in November.

In addition to Vote Catholic Ohio, Issue 1 is endorsed by Ohio Right to Life.

Ohio elected officials that have endorsed Issue 1 include U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R), U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R), Gov. Mike DeWine (R), and Sec. of State Frank LaRose (R).

The initiative is opposed by a number of groups that want to expand access to abortion, including Planned Parenthood, Pro-Choice Ohio, Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom, Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, and Protect Choice Ohio.

Also opposing the measure is a roster of left-leaning advocacy groups, including Black Lives Matter Cleveland, Black Lives Matter Dayton, Black Out and Proud, the Cleveland Bi+ Network, Columbus New Liberals, Democrat Socialists of America-Cleveland, Ensuring Parole for Incarcerated Citizens, Ohio Federation of Teachers, and the Communist Party of Ohio. 

Ohio is one of only fifteen U.S. states that allow for ballot driven amendments to their constitutions. Of those fifteen, four of them, Illinois, Arizona, Florida, and Colorado, have thresholds for passage above a simple majority.