On Tuesday, the 7th of November, voters in several states took part in elections to determine their governors and legislatures, while in other states changes to abortion rights were debated. The US state of Ohio voted to include abortion rights in its constitution, showing that reproductive rights remain an important issue for Democrats ahead of the 2024 presidential election, reports the BBC.
The US Supreme Court last year overturned the 1972 Roe v. Wade ruling and struck down a nationwide right to terminate pregnancies.
According to the BBC, the Ohio amendment, which was seen as a major victory for abortion rights advocates, was passed. It is the first Republican-led state to amend its constitution to explicitly protect abortion rights. It will establish
“an individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment”,
including abortion, contraception, and miscarriage care.
As the BBC states, the amendment prohibits the state from “directly or indirectly burdening, punishing or prohibiting abortion” before the period of viability, which is generally considered to be around the 23rd week of pregnancy.
The amendment allows the state to prohibit abortion after the period of viability, except in cases where the patient’s doctor deems it necessary to protect the patient’s life or health.
Opponents worried that the amendment would allow “late-term abortions”, but supporters stressed that such abortions would only be allowed if a professional doctor certifies serious health problems.
In response to the Ohio constitutional amendment, Ohio Republicans expressed their intention to propose additional initiatives on abortion “to further protect innocent lives”, states the BBC.
Two other elections on Tuesday in Kentucky and Virginia will also have an impact on abortion access. The re-election of Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is seen as a victory for activists fighting to preserve abortion access in the state. In Virginia, Democrats opposed to Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s tough abortion restrictions secured control of both houses of the legislature.
Democrats, including US President Joe Biden, hope this issue will continue to boost turnout ahead of next year’s elections, according to the BBC.
Read also: Joe Biden announces plans to run for re-election in 2024
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