Backers' immediate goal is to thwart a constitutional amendment headed toward November ballots that would enshrine abortion rights in Ohio's constitution.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling guaranteeing abortion rights last year, other states' amendments involving the procedure have shown voter support for legal access to abortion is between 50% and 60%, whether in conservative Kansas, Democratic-leaning Michigan or Republican-leaning Kentucky. But no vote has exceeded 60%.
AP VoteCast polling last year found 59% of Ohio voters say abortion should generally be legal.
Among maneuvers used to get the resolution past its GOP opposition was to remove language Tuesday that would have sent the question to an August ballot. Opponents of that strategy bristle at that fact that it was only in January that a new election law was signed eliminating most August special elections.
The August ballot language was re-added during the House session today.
State Rep. Sharon Ray, who offered the amendment pushing the 60% question to Ohio’s next scheduled general or special election, previously said an August election would add “another level of complication” to the already tough job of local election workers.
“I made a promise to our board of elections,” the Republican said. “Remember, these are our neighbors and friends that work very hard to provide flawless elections for us — most of them volunteers, they get paid a mere stipend — and, I guess, I appreciate their sacrifice.”
The move marked merely the latest twist in the dramatic journey the resolution has taken since it was first unveiled in December, during last year’s lame duck session. Separate legislation creating and providing $20 million for an August special election also has died in the House, with representatives now contending it was never needed in the first place. Its sponsor, state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, testified that a tweak to existing law was needed in order for General Assembly-initiated constitutional amendments to appear on August ballots.
Stephens declined to guess whether that amendment on August elections — or the resolution itself — would pass, but he portrayed scheduling the vote as delivering on his promise to conservatives within his divided caucus.
“I think it's important that we have deliberated and discussed this issue for some time now here in the House, because it is an important issue, because it is our constitution," he told reporters Tuesday. He said there remained “more than a couple” ifs headed into the day.
House Minority Leader Allison Russo, whose caucus helped lift Stephens to his surprise speakership, expressed disappointment that the 60% vote was going forward. She said citizens have been "loud and clear" that they will defeat the issue, whether it appears on an August or November ballot.
“The problem is we’re going to create confusion, we’re going to create costs that now we’re going to push off to the counties and to our boards of elections in order to conduct that — and all to cater to extremists," she said. "I ask the members of the majority party who I know are opposed to this, are you going to cave to extremists or are you going to stand with the people of Ohio?"
Opponents planned to continue their fight ahead of the scheduled vote. A broad coalition of voting rights, faith, labor, civil rights and community groups planned a massive protest ahead of Wednesday's vote. It's the second in a week. Every living ex-governor of the state, and both Republican and Democratic former attorneys general, also oppose the constitutional change, as does the Ohio Libertarian Party.
Representatives are expected to fill two House vacancies before voting on the resolution Wednesday, allowing the two new members to participate in the vote.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP