In the northeast of the United States, in Ohio, the Republicans suffered a defeat on a technical local vote. This text, after adoption, could have threatened the inclusion of abortion (voluntary termination of pregnancy) in the Constitution of Ohio. 20 minutes takes stock of this vote, a new failure in perspective for the Republican camp, which has had a string of setbacks on the burning issue of abortion.
What was that vote on Tuesday?
Ohio voted Tuesday on a measure called “Issue One” which could be decisive for the right to abortion in the American state. The conservative camp wanted to pass a constitutional reform that would have significantly complicated the organization and adoption of referendums in this state in the north of the United States.
What does the so-called “Issue One” motion contain?
The text of the law provided that the threshold necessary to modify the Constitution was no longer 50% of the votes, a simple majority, but 60%. More votes were therefore needed in favor of a text to change the Constitution and ultimately close polls were losers. But Ohio voters spoke out against the reform. At 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, the “no” was in front with 57% of the votes, out of 60% of ballots counted, according to the newspaper’s website. USA Today.
Why was the issue of abortion in the crosshairs of this crucial vote?
By proposing this reform, the Republicans had in mind the right to abortion which will be at stake in a ballot on November 3 and they wanted to make a victory for the pro-abortion camp much more difficult. Ohio, a former bastion of American industry which created a surprise by voting for Donald Trump in 2016, has been torn apart on abortion since the Supreme Court gave the States the possibility of legislating on the question, in June 2022. For the time being, abortion is not prohibited there. However, the governor would like to take the plunge beyond the sixth week of pregnancy, without exception for rape or incest.
The constitutional reform to be voted on in November must guarantee access to abortion for all up to around 23 weeks of pregnancy. And if this constitutional reform wins, the anti-abortion governor’s law could not be adopted. Hence the interest for anti-abortion to complicate the adoption of amendments to the Constitution.
Illustration of the interest that Ohio voters have in the subject of abortion: more than 500,000 people had already voted on this constitutional reform by advance vote before the ballot on Tuesday. This local election received extensive national media coverage, which saw it as an important test vote for Republicans. ‘Issue One’ was seen by political observers as a proxy battle over proposed constitutional protection for abortion
What were the reactions on the pro-abortion side?
Alexis McGill Johnson, president of powerful family planning organization Planned Parenthood, hailed “great news” after the interim results were announced. “Ohioans went to the polls and rejected the Opposition’s move to undermine democracy and restrict the ability to choose whether or not to have children,” she said on Twitter. .
“Today, Ohio voters rejected an attempt by Republican lawmakers and special interests” to “change the state’s constitutional amendment process,” the president said. Joe Biden in a statement. “This measure was a blatant attempt to weaken the voice of voters and further undermine women’s freedom to make their own decisions about their health. The people of Ohio spoke loud and clear, and tonight democracy won,” he added.