Overview

• Last week, Ohio voters approved Issue 1, enshrining abortion protections in the state's constitution, marking the seventh straight ballot measure loss for the pro-life movement since Roe v. Wade's reversal less than a year and a half ago.
• Despite increased funding and strategic changes, the pro-life movement in Ohio was defeated by a margin of 57% to 43%, the same margin by which Michigan's abortion amendment was passed last fall.
• Republicans' losses in Ohio and Virginia have put the spotlight back on abortion rights as a major election issue heading into 2024, and renewed scrutiny on imposing an abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
• Republicans in Virginia hoped to follow other states like Florida that have turned to 15-week bans as a less controversial way to restrict abortion, but this strategy failed as Democrats instead seized control of the state’s legislature.
• More than a dozen states now ban the procedure, while others have enacted bans that have since been blocked in court. However, voters in eight states have now voted in favor of abortion rights on ballot measures, with Ohio voters becoming the latest to do so last week.