Ohio Republicans introduced the measure in hopes of undercutting a citizen initiative voters will decide in November that seeks to elevate abortion rights in the constitution. FOX13
FILE-Protesters hold placards expressing their opinion at a pro-abortion rights rally in Dayton, Ohio. on Tuesday resoundingly rejected a Republican-backed measure that would have made it more difficult to change the state’s constitution, setting up a fall campaign that will become the nation’s latest referendum on abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned nationwide protections last year.
"Tonight is a major victory for democracy in Ohio," Willard told a jubilant crowd at the opposition campaign’s watch party. "The majority still rules in Ohio." "Obviously, there are a lot of folks that did not want this to happen — not just because of the November issues, but for all of the other ones that are coming," he said, expressing disappointment that Republicans didn't stick together. In a statement, Republican House Speaker Jason Stephens advised supporters to move past Tuesday's results to focus on trying to defeat the abortion rights measure: "The people of Ohio have spoken.
Interest in Tuesday's special election was intense, even after Republicans ignored their own law that took effect earlier this year to place the question before voters in August. Voters cast nearly 700,000 early in-person and mail ballots ahead of Tuesday’s final day of voting, more than double the number of advance votes in a typical primary election. Early turnout was especially heavy in the Democratic-leaning counties surrounding Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.
Voters in several states have approved ballot questions protecting access to abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, but typically have done so with less than 60% of the vote. AP VoteCast polling last year found that 59% of Ohio voters say abortion should generally be legal.
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