This is our moment. The November 7 election will determine the future of reproductive health care in Ohio. Ohioans can help combat efforts to silence our voices and deny our rights by showing up this election and voting to protect access to care, including contraception and abortion, for generations to come. The power is in our hands. Let’s do this, Ohio.
Here are two ways you can make a difference this election:
1. Share Your Care Journey
You have the right to health care without political interference, but politicians are determined to take away Ohioans' access to abortion and other health care. It's never been more important to tell others about your experiences and show that Planned Parenthood is a vital organization in your community. Storytelling is a powerful tool to decrease stigma, build connections, and center lived experiences in the movement for reproductive and sexual health freedom.
Telling others about your journey in seeking abortion care or contraception can make a difference. Your story has power. Learning about personal experiences empowers others, builds community, and shows lawmakers, the media, and other supporters what we're fighting for — and why we'll never back down.
We want to hear about your abortion care or contraception journey. Your story will help ensure that this care may continue to be available for the tens of thousands of Ohioans who rely on it.
2. Vote On or By November 7
It’s no secret that our rights and values are on the line this November. But voting is a way you can share your perspective, and your perspective matters. You can create change in your community by registering to vote and voting in every election. Every election matters.
What are we voting on in November?
Ohio’s General Election is on November 7, 2023. Voters will have the chance to vote on a variety of issues from School Boards to Municipal Governments, to ballot initiatives like Issue 1.
- What is Issue 1?
- Issue 1 or “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety” amendment was written by Ohioans. It was placed on the ballot by hundreds of thousands of Ohioans. It was written with the health and freedom of Ohio families in mind.
- What does Issue 1 change?
- This amendment would protect the right to reproductive freedom, including protections for abortion, contraception, prenatal care, childbirth, and other forms of reproductive health care with reasonable limits. It would give Ohioans freedom to make decisions about our own reproductive health care without political or government interference. For more detail, you can read the full amendment language online.
- What is the difference between Issue 1 in the August Special Election and Issue 1 in the November General Election?
- In August, voters denied the passing of the 60% Vote Requirement to Approve Constitutional Amendments Measure, which was known as Issue 1. Since this effort did not pass, the current law requiring a simple majority (50% + 1) vote to approve a constitutional amendment remains in place.
- In November, Issue 1 will be on the ballot again but this time representing the “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety” amendment. Through this amendment, voters will decide whether or not decisions about our own reproductive health care will be protected from political or government interference.
How do we vote in this election?
The first thing you need to make sure of before voting in the upcoming election is your current voter registration status. You can check your voter registration status on Ohio’s election website.
If your voter registration is not up to date because you moved or changed your name, or you are not yet registered to vote in Ohio, visit our voter registration blog for all the information you will need! The deadline to register to vote is October 10, so act fast and ensure you are ready to vote in this election.
Once your voter registration status is up to date, you are ready to vote! There are three different ways to vote in Ohio:
1. Early voting in-person
All registered voters may cast a early in-person ballot at their county board of elections. Early in-person voting begins October 11 and includes the Saturday and Sunday before Election Day.
2. Absentee voting
All Ohio voters also have the opportunity to vote in any election at their convenience by requesting an absentee ballot. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is seven days before the election in which you want to vote, which is October 31 this year. If mailed, absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before the election in order to be counted, so the deadline to mail your absentee ballot this year is November 6.
You can also return your absentee ballot in person to your county board of elections before the close of the polls at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Each county in Ohio has one drop box that allows voters to return their Absentee Ballot Requests and Absentee Ballots at their Board of Elections in-person.
3. Election day in-person voting
On Election Day, you can go to your designated polling location to cast your ballot. The polls will be open on November 7 from 6:30 am - 7:30 pm.
If you decide to vote in person, make sure you have one of the acceptable forms of ID required to vote:
- Acceptable forms of ID
- An Ohio driver license
- An Ohio state ID card (Additional links and information in the Free State IDs section below)
- An interim identification form issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- A U.S. passport or passport card
- A U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card (that includes the voter’s name and photograph)
- [College students] If you don’t have a valid Ohio photo ID, you can vote-by-mail using the last four digits of your Social Security Number as identification.
- No longer acceptable
- Current utility bill, bank statement, government check; paycheck, other government document, and concealed carry permit.
For more Ohio voting resources, visit Ohio’s election website!
Let’s do this, Ohio!
Together, we can make a difference this November and ensure Ohioans have access to the care they deserve.
As a reminder, abortion is currently safe and legal in Ohio.
Tags: