WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ISSUE 1

REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IS ON THE BALLOT:

This November 7, 2023, Ohioans will have the opportunity to vote to protect their right to abortion and reject extremism and government control, to ensure families can make the decisions that are best for them.

Ohioans believe that abortion is a personal, private decision that should be up to them and their families without government meddling in their business.

We know that if we don’t succeed, the government will have the power to ban abortion completely, even in cases of rape, incest, or when someone’s life is in danger.

HOW DOES ISSUE 1 CHANGE THE OHIO CONSTITUTION?

The Amendment would amend Article I of the Ohio Constitution by adding Section 22, titled “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety.” The Amendment provides that:

1. Every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.

2. The State shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against either an individual’s voluntary exercise of this right or a person or entity that assists an individual exercising this right, unless the State demonstrates that it is using the least restrictive means to advance the individual’s health in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based standards of care.

3. However, abortion may be prohibited after fetal viability. But in no case may such an abortion be prohibited if in the professional judgment of the pregnant patient’s treating physician it is necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.

4. As used in this Section, “Fetal viability” means “the point in a pregnancy when, in the professional judgment of the pregnant patient’s treating physician, the fetus has a significant likelihood of survival outside the uterus with reasonable measures. This is determined on a case-by-case basis”; and “State” includes any governmental entity and political subdivision.

NOTE: If you have moved or changed your name since the last time you voted, you need to update your registration with the Board of Elections.

In order to vote Absentee (by mail) you must first complete an Absentee Ballot Application! Absentee Ballots will begin to mail out to voters on October 11th, and can be requested now. To request an Absentee Ballot, you can download one of the forms below, or pick up a form at the dropbox in front of the Board of Elections:

You must return your ballot application to the Portage County Board of Elections. You can return it by mail, or drop it off in the secured mailbox out front.

Portage County Board of Elections
449 S Meridian St.
Ravenna, OH 44266

Once you’ve mailed or dropped off your Absentee Ballot Request, you can click here to track it.

You can also call the Portage County Board of Elections at (330) 297-3511.

NOTE: All absentee by mail ballots must be postmarked by Monday, November 6th, 2023 or received at the Board of Elections Office by Tuesday, November 7th, 2023 prior to 7:30 p.m.

Vote Early In-Person

NOTE: YOU MUST VOTE AT YOUR OWN POLLING LOCATION ON ELECTION DAY! FIND YOUR POLLING LOCATION HERE.