Pink Rose Society

Reproductive Rights in Ohio

Abortion and reproductive freedom are settled Ohio constitutional questions at the ballot — and live political ones in the 2026 races.

The record

  • 2019: Mike DeWine signed a six-week "heartbeat" ban.
  • November 2023: Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment (Issue 1) enshrining reproductive freedom, ~57%–43% — after rejecting an August 2023 measure to make such amendments harder to pass.
  • The heartbeat ban has been blocked as it conflicts with the amendment; litigation runs through the Ohio Supreme Court.

Why it matters in 2026

The electorate has spoken, but implementation depends on who holds power: the courts (Ohio 2026 Supreme Court Election), the Ohio Attorney General, and the governor (Ohio 2026 Governor Race — physician Amy Acton vs. Vivek Ramaswamy).

Sources