Ohio abortion measure draws $5 million negative ad buy stressing risk to parental rights
Jeremiah Poff
A new Ohio-based conservative women’s organization announced a $5 million campaign Wednesday with the goal of defeating efforts by pro-abortion rights activists to enact a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion in the state.
Protect Women Ohio announced the four-week, multimillion-dollar campaign to oppose efforts by Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom and Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights to force a statewide ballot referendum that would legalize abortion statewide.
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On Monday, the Ohio Ballot Board approved the proposed amendment, allowing the two groups to begin collecting signatures from voters so the measure can be included on the state’s 2023 ballot. The requirement is 412,591 signatures from at least 44 of the state’s counties by July 5 for the amendment to reach the statewide ballot.
The centerpiece of the campaign is a 30-second television ad that spotlights the proposed amendment’s effects on parental rights. The group says the amendment would allow underage girls to obtain abortions or undergo sex-change therapies without parental notice or consent.
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“Your daughter’s young, vulnerable, online … pushed to change her sex or to get an abortion,” the ad says. “You have some right to help her through this, but activists want to take all that away. Under their proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution, the state ‘shall not interfere’ with individuals getting abortions or sex changes, meaning you could be cut out of the biggest decision of her life.”
Proponents of the amendment say it is necessary to enshrine access to abortion into the state constitution following the reversal of Roe v. Wade last year. Ohio law bans abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.
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Protect Women Ohio board member Molly Smith said the amendment is “extreme” and urged Ohioans to vote against the measure.
“Moms and dads will be cut out of the most important and life-altering decisions of their child’s life if this passes,” she said. “This extreme amendment eliminates any current or future protections for minors requiring parents be notified and consent before their child undergoes a procedure like an abortion or sex-change surgery. Ohioans must vote ‘no’ on this dangerous proposal.”