In an upcoming election that holds significant implications for reproductive rights, Ohioans will decide whether to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. A victory for pro-abortion rights supporters would extend their winning streak, as they have emerged victorious in every election since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The outcome of this closely watched race, known as Issue 1, hinges on whether voters will support codifying the right to reproductive medical treatment, including abortion, and preventing the state from burdening or prohibiting those rights.

With public polling indicating that 58% of registered Ohio voters support enshrining abortion rights, groups in favor of passing Issue 1 have spent $18.3 million since the special election held in August. Advertising campaigns on both sides of the issue have inundated airwaves and mailboxes across the state. However, there are concerns that the naming of the measure as Issue 1 again may cause confusion among voters, potentially leading to a bias towards voting against it. The previous August ballot measure, also called Issue 1, which aimed to make it harder to pass future state constitutional amendments, suffered a resounding defeat, giving hope to reproductive rights advocates.

Opponents of Issue 1, including groups like Protect Women Ohio, have recently launched ads featuring well-known conservative figures such as Tucker Carlson and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, who has long been vocal against abortion. These ads aim to sway voters, particularly those who may view Governor DeWine as a credible authority figure.

Protect Women Ohio has also faced criticism for running ads that opponents and nonpartisan experts claim are designed to mislead voters. One Spanish-language advertisement inaccurately suggested that passage of Issue 1 would lead to unrestricted abortion access, while others argued that the measure would infringe upon parental rights. However, experts point out that the amendment makes no mention of transgender rights or parental rights and is unlikely to have an impact on Ohio's existing law requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortion care.

If Issue 1 passes, it would counteract Ohio's "heartbeat bill," which has temporarily been blocked by a state judge. The bill bans most abortions, except in cases of the pregnant woman's health or ectopic pregnancies, and was enacted following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision. Nonetheless, a prospective ruling allowing the law to stand is currently under review by the state Supreme Court. If Issue 1 fails to pass and the court upholds the law, most abortions in Ohio would become illegal at around six weeks of pregnancy.

Democrats and pro-abortion rights groups have expressed concerns about the stance taken by major Ohio newspapers on the issue. The Toledo Blade, traditionally supportive of women's right to abortion, urged voters to reject the proposed amendment, while The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com have refrained from taking a position, attracting criticism from local Democrats.

Although national Democrats have remained relatively silent on the matter, with the exception of a supportive tweet from former President Barack Obama, Ohio is witnessing campaign efforts from local Democratic representatives, including Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Emilia Sykes, as well as Sen. Sherrod Brown.

As Ohioans brace themselves for this pivotal vote, both sides of the abortion rights debate are heavily invested in the outcome of Issue 1, which will determine the future of reproductive rights in the state. The results of this closely contested election will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for the ongoing national conversation on abortion rights.