Rep. Forhan Announces Certification of Reproductive Freedom Amendment

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Elliot Forhan (D-South Euclid) released the following statement following today’s decision by the Ohio Ballot Board unanimously certifying and advancing a proposed reproductive freedom amendment to the Ohio Constitution.

“The people of Ohio have not been served by this gerrymandered legislature,” said Rep. Forhan. “When the people’s elected representatives are not responsive to the people’s demands, citizens will take the initiative themselves and go to the ballot. Today, the citizens presented to us a constitutional amendment with a single purpose that Ohioans overwhelmingly support, and that is reproductive freedom. Ohioans deserve access to contraception and abortion as well as pregnancy and miscarriage care.”  

The amendment would add a section to Article I of the Ohio Constitution titled “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety.” Proponents of the constitutional amendment now have until Wednesday, July 5 for its initial effort to collect 413,446 valid signatures from at least 44 Ohio counties. Petitioners will have an additional 10 days to collect more signatures if needed after the first batch is checked and verified by election officials. If petitioners are successful, the measure will be placed on Ohio’s November ballot.