In Ohio, voters rejected, Tuesday, August 8, a legislative reform proposed by the Republicans. The outcome of this vote could have had significant consequences for the referendum scheduled for November 2023, particularly on the issue of abortion.
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It’s a “ No Without appeal: the voters of Ohio refuse to raise the threshold for the adoption of constitutional amendments to 60% and prefer to keep the simple majority rule. A setback for the Republicans at the head of this state of Midwest who were counting on the calm of August to ensure a low turnout and a victory for their proposal, reports our correspondent in New York, Loubna Anaki. But that was without counting on the mobilization of voters, aware of the real stakes of this vote: a referendum scheduled for November 2023 on the question of abortion. Indeed, in less than three months, the people of Ohio will have to decide whether they want to enshrine the right to abortion in their state constitution. A simple majority will suffice. And that’s what the Republicans hoped to avoid by changing the rules.
“ loud and clear »
“ Today voters in Ohio rejected an attempt by Republican lawmakers and special interests “whose objective was” to alter the state’s constitutional amendment process said President 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.
Ohio, a former bastion of American industry which created a surprise by voting for Donald Trump in 2016, has been torn over abortion since the Supreme Court left the States the possibility of legislating on the question, in June 2022 Illustration of the interest that Ohio voters have in the subject: more than 500,000 people had already voted on this constitutional reform by early voting before the ballot on Tuesday.
A majority of Americans for the protection of access to abortion
Alexis McGill Johnson, president of the powerful family planning organization Planned Parenthood, hailed a “ excellent news after the announcement of the provisional results. “ Ohioans went to the polls and rejected the opposition’s measure aimed at undermining democracy and restricting the ability to choose whether or not to have children “, she said on Twitter (X).
Great news! Ohioans showed up to the polls and rejected the opposition’s attempts to undermine democracy and restrict reproductive freedom.
Abortion is on the ballot this November. Mark your calendars now, Ohio! https://t.co/whEzgKyhkS
— Alexis McGill Johnson (@alexismcgill) August 9, 2023
The issue of abortion has imposed itself in the campaign for the presidential election of 2024: the president-candidate democrat Joe Biden rallies the organizations defending the right to abortion, while some Republican tenors promise on the contrary an all-out ban.
According to recent opinion polls, the majority of Americans want to protect access to abortion. The failure of anti-abortion referendums in the very conservative states of Kentucky and Kansas has shown nuances even in the Republican electorate.
Read alsoA year after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the right to abortion in danger in the United States
(and with AFP)