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Democrat Nan Whaley wants to protect abortion access in the Ohio Constitution. That is a big lift.
The Cincinnati Enquirer via Yahoo NewsDemocratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Whaley wants to sidestep Ohio's GOP politicians and put abortion access on the ballot as early as 2023.
The idea is appealing to abortion rights advocates because Ohio's GOP-controlled Legislature and Republican Gov. Mike DeWine are committed to banning the procedure.
"We know that Mike DeWine and the extremists in the Legislature are going to stop at nothing when it comes to completely banning abortion," Whaley told reporters Wednesday.
But the road to the ballot is costly, cumbersome and comes with no guarantee of success. Statewide efforts to amend the Ohio Constitution require millions of dollars, paid signature collectors and a coalition of supporters with deep pockets. A 2015 constitutional ballot issue to legalize marijuana spent more than $35 million.
Would it make the ballot?
To make the ballot, backers would need to collect signatures from 10% of electors in the last governor's race. That number is currently 442,958 valid signatures from at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties, but it will change after the 2022 election.
The process isn't quick.
"I do know the possibility is being discussed," said attorney Jessie Hill, who has sued Ohio to restore abortion access. "But a ballot initiative is a lengthy and expensive process, so those are real barriers, especially for immediate action."
It's already too late to make the 2022 ballot, and Whaley wants to focus on unseating DeWine first. She contends that having the backing of the sitting governor would mean more anyway.
"I want voters to know that when I'm governor, I will be fighting for abortion rights even if that means going directly to voters with a ballot initiative," she said.
The idea is appealing to abortion rights advocates because Ohio's GOP-controlled Legislature and Republican Gov. Mike DeWine are committed to banning the procedure.
"We know that Mike DeWine and the extremists in the Legislature are going to stop at nothing when it comes to completely banning abortion," Whaley told reporters Wednesday.
But the road to the ballot is costly, cumbersome and comes with no guarantee of success. Statewide efforts to amend the Ohio Constitution require millions of dollars, paid signature collectors and a coalition of supporters with deep pockets. A 2015 constitutional ballot issue to legalize marijuana spent more than $35 million.
Would it make the ballot?
To make the ballot, backers would need to collect signatures from 10% of electors in the last governor's race. That number is currently 442,958 valid signatures from at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties, but it will change after the 2022 election.
The process isn't quick.
"I do know the possibility is being discussed," said attorney Jessie Hill, who has sued Ohio to restore abortion access. "But a ballot initiative is a lengthy and expensive process, so those are real barriers, especially for immediate action."
It's already too late to make the 2022 ballot, and Whaley wants to focus on unseating DeWine first. She contends that having the backing of the sitting governor would mean more anyway.
"I want voters to know that when I'm governor, I will be fighting for abortion rights even if that means going directly to voters with a ballot initiative," she said.
