COLUMBUS, Ohio (Michigan News Source) – Ohio chose to join Michigan and a host of other states that have enshrined the right to an abortion in its constitution after tallying the votes from the Proposal 1 vote. 

According to polling results, 57% of Ohioans voted in favor of the constitutional amendment, just over a year after the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. 

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President Joe Biden expressed his support for the voting outcome last night. 

“In Ohio, voters protected access to reproductive health in their state constitution,” President Biden said in a statement. “Ohioans and voters across the country rejected attempts by MAGA Republican elected officials to impose extreme abortion bans that put the health and lives of women in jeopardy, force women to travel hundreds of miles for care, and threaten to criminalize doctors and nurses for providing the health care that their patients need and that they are trained to provide.”

He also called supporters of abortion bans “out-of-step with the vast majority of Americans.”

“My Administration will continue to protect access to reproductive health care and call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law once and for all,” President Biden added. 

Opponents of the decision, including Protect Women Ohio – a pro-life coalition opposed to the amendment – shared their dismay at the results. 

“Our hearts are broken tonight not because we lost an election, but because Ohio families, women and children will bear the brunt of this vote,” Protect Women Ohio said in a statement.

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The pro-life group also made reference to Michigan, which passed its own version last fall. 

“When Michigan voters passed a similar amendment last year, they were sold the lie that parental rights would be unaffected, that late-term abortion would remain illegal, and that women’s health and safety standards would not be touched,” the statement said. “But just last week, the Michigan legislature voted to repeal penalties for partial-birth abortions, to eliminate health and safety protections at abortion facilities, and they called parental consent laws “unconstitutional.” They even vowed to come for informed consent laws and 24-hour waiting periods next. We know the same barbaric attacks on parents and children are now coming home to Ohio.” 

While Ohio Governor Mike DeWine did not address the topic of Issue 1 on social media the day of the election, he and the First Lady, Fran DeWine appeared in a video encouraging Ohioans to oppose the amendment. 

“I know Ohioans are divided on the issue of abortion,” Gov. DeWine said in the video, “But whether you’re pro-life or pro-choice, Issue 1 is just not right for Ohio.” 

Advocates for the proposals raised nearly $42 million, with top donations coming from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, Open Society Policy Center, and the American Civil Liberties Union.  Those opposing the proposal raised just over $26 million in contributions with top contributions coming from the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Protect Women Ohio Action, Inc., and Knights of Columbus. 

Last fall, Michigan voters made a similar decision to enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution, by roughly a margin of 13%, and was endorsed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. 

“In November, Michiganders of every background made history and sent a clear message: that a woman must be able to make her own healthcare decisions without the interference of politicians in Lansing,” said Governor Whitmer in a statement. 

“I will continue to use every tool in my toolbox to defend Michiganders’ reproductive freedom, and work with anyone to build a thriving, competitive Michigan we can be proud to pass on to future generations,” she added. 

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, states with a Democrat majority in the legislature and governorship, a trifecta, nearly all have protections for abortion including states like California, Colorado, and Michigan. On the other hand, the majority of states with a Republican trifecta have a total ban and limitations.  Ohio is the only Republican trifecta state to uphold the constitutionality of abortion.