Columbus, OH — Representatives of Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights and Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom today issued the following joint statement after learning that the summary of the “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety” constitutional amendment has been certified by the Ohio Attorney General.
Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights Executive Director Dr. Lauren Beene and Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom spokesperson Lauren Blauvelt made the following joint statement:
“Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights and Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom are pleased that we have completed this important step in the process of adding an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that will explicitly protect the reproductive freedom of Ohioans, including access to abortion. As the Ohio Ballot Board reviews the language to determine if it contains one amendment, we will continue our preparations to collect the signatures needed to place the issue on the 2023 General Election Ballot. As we demonstrated ten days ago when we collected a record number of signatures, our organizations, volunteers, and supporters are more than capable of accomplishing that task.
“Like so many other Americans, Ohioans are widely and deeply unhappy with the overturn of Roe v. Wade last year. The health and lives of Ohioans and the sanctity of doctor-patient relationships have been at risk due to extreme anti-abortion legislation passed at the Statehouse.”
The law requires the Ohio Ballot Board to meet within 10 days to review the language and return it to the Attorney General who forwards a certified copy to the Secretary of State. The groups may then begin to circulate petitions. The Coalition must collect approximately 413,000 signatures by July 5 to qualify for this year’s General Election ballot.
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About Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights and Protect Choice Ohio
Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights (OPRR) and it’s grassroots network, Protect Choice Ohio, is a coalition of more than 2,000 Ohio physicians, allied medical professionals, business leaders and other non-partisan advocates that are mobilizing to ensure patients throughout Ohio have access to safe, legal, equitable, and comprehensive reproductive medical care including abortion for all Ohioans and to protect the doctor-patient relationship from government interference, so that people can make their own reproductive health care decisions. Visit ProtectChoiceOhio.com for more information.
About Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom
Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom is a coalition of leading Ohio-based rights groups formed by the ACLU of Ohio, Abortion Fund of Ohio, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, Ohio Women’s Alliance, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, Preterm-Cleveland, Pro-Choice Ohio, and URGE. The reproductive rights, health, and justice organizations that make up Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom are trusted institutions that have been working in partnership for decades to protect and expand abortion access. For years, hundreds of thousands of Ohio families have relied on this coalition to help them make reproductive decisions that are right for them and their families. Learn more at www.