State of Ohio rejects Republican bid to tighten constitutional amendment
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio voters have rejected a Republican-backed measure that would have made it more difficult to amend the state constitution.
Known as “Issue 1,” the measure would have raised the hurdle for passing future amendments to the state constitution from 50% to 60% of voters.
The outcome of the special election was also a decisive victory for abortion rights advocates. Had the measure passed, they would have faced the daunting prospect of reaching a super-majority of voters in the fall.
The election was the latest nationwide battle over abortion, more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down abortion rights nationwide.
In states where abortion opponents, usually Republicans, control the legislature or hold the governor, ballot initiatives have become a powerful tool for abortion rights activists.
Some groups opposed to Tuesday’s vote had stressed that the referendum was about abortion and argued that it was simply undemocratic to curtail the power of citizens.
After counting more than 1.2 million votes, 60% of Ohio citizens had voted no, compared with 40% who voted yes.
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