How August and November Ballot Initiatives Could Affect Abortion in Ohio: An Explainer

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

49% : Ohioans are set to vote on two major ballot initiatives in the coming months -- one in August and another in November -- that will determine how constitutional amendments are adopted and whether the state constitution will guarantee a right to abortion.
48% : Lawmakers would only be allowed to restrict abortion "after fetal viability," which is defined as the point in pregnancy in which the child could survive outside of the uterus.
47% : Under current Ohio law, abortion is legal up to 22 weeks of pregnancy, which is shortly before most unborn children reach viability.
45% : This would include, but not be limited to, abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care, and continuing one's pregnancy.
45% : Ohio lawmakers passed legislation to ban abortion when a fetal heartbeat can be detected -- which occurs at about six weeks of pregnancy -- which was signed into law in 2019.
41% : A proposed amendment that will likely be on the ballot on Nov. 7 would prohibit state lawmakers from passing bills that restrict abortion before viability and establish a constitutional "right to make and carry out one's own reproductive decisions."
40% : Before Ohioans vote on the constitutional amendment related to abortion, there will be voting on a constitutional amendment that would change the process for adopting amendments, which could make it more difficult for the Nov. 7 abortion proposal to be adopted.

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