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OHIO: Why not wait until 2024 for popular abortion protection ballot measure? [1]

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Date: 2023-02-24  

ohioansforreproductivefreedom.org/…

Two Ohio organizations that support reproductive rights — Protect Choice Ohio and Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom (plus a bunch of other supporting orgs) — have joined forced and formally submitted language to put a measure on the Ohio ballot that would safeguard access to abortion in Ohio.

This is critical and needed. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed many anti-abortion measures into law, and leads an administration hostile to reproductive freedom in general. Ohioans should have no confidence that the extremely red (gerrymandered) Ohio House and Senate — despite their infighting! — will not send an outright ban to his desk, that he might sign, especially as a lame duck. Despite some high-profile examples, Ohio’s state government shows no signs of moving to moderate its anti-abortion stance. Polls before Roe’s rollback showed Ohioans are fairly split on the subject, but more recent polling seems to indicate protecting these rights would be likely to pass, with nearly 60% of Ohioans supporting a constitutional amendment (at least in concept).

As an Ohioan, this issue matters, and I’m thrilled to see powerful organizations working to enshrine these protections in law.

But I admit I am confused by and frustrated at the timing. The stated goal of the current push is a ballot measure this fall, in 2023. On one hand, there’s no time to waste, and citizens shouldn’t suffer needlessly a day longer than necessary; if this will pass, and the capacity is there to work to do it, they should do it. But on the other hand, we’ve seen the mobilization of voters that such measures can have, and the 2024 election will feature a marquee Senate race in Ohio (Democrat Sherrod Brown), along with a Presidential contest. I’d like to think that both national observers and in-state politicos still see Ohio as a place that is purple enough for a trusted Democratic Senator to be reelected, and a place where a Democratic incumbent President could be favored as well — especially if bolstered by the turnout of a ballot measure as critical as abortion rights.

I’m nothing but an armchair keyboard warrior here; I’m no elections expert, nor a doctor. Nor a person who can get pregnant! But from 35,000 feet, it feels like holding this issue until the 2024 contest would have so many upsides, with the only downside being delay. What am I missing? I’ll donate and speak up and support the measure whenever it arrives, but in my heart of hearts I’ll be frustrated if a massive turnout passes it in 2023, and then Ohio narrowly loses its only D Senator and again votes to elect an R President the following year as many of those voters sit it out. Or have we already written off the chances of either outcome going our way?

I’d love some reassurances from this smart community that this is indeed the best approach. The measure needs to pass, the polling seems very positive, and there are smart folks leading powerful groups to actually get it done. But the timing — I just don’t get it.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/24/2154747/-OHIO-Why-not-wait-until-2024-for-popular-abortion-protection-ballot-measure

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