Ohio AG approves drafting of the abortion protection petition

The Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights and the Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Freedom aim to put the constitutional amendment on the ballot in November. It will ensure access to abortion through what is called viability, when the fetus is able to survive outside the womb. This will protect caregivers from punishment for performing the procedure or assisting in the operation.

Yost defended Ohio’s near-total ban on abortions, which the judge blocked while the related lawsuit was ongoing.

“My personal views on abortion are public knowledge,” Yost wrote in the letter of credit. “In this case, I am bound by the duty of judging a narrow case and not using the power of my office to implement good policy or to prevent bad policy.”

Powerful anti-abortion forces in the state have vowed to fight the measure, which is expected to cost each side more than $30 million.

“We look forward to exposing the dangers of this cruel amendment being pushed in Ohio by the abortion industry,” Peter Ring, CEO of Ohio Right to Life, said in an emailed statement. He said that this step would impede security protection measures for women, as well as parental rights.

The motion goes to the Ohio Board of Polling, which will have 10 days to clarify the wording of the ballot.

This will begin what promises to be a labor-intensive signature collection phase. Under Ohio law, groups must collect 413,446 signatures—10% of the vote in Ohio’s last race—statewide, in at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties. The deadline for the November 7 ballot is July 5.