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On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the historic Roe V. Wade case which protected a woman’s right to a safe, legal abortion. Roe V. Wade was a significant case because it allowed women to legally have an abortion that was protected by the Constitution. Women were not at risk of being arrested for this procedure. It enabled a woman to choose what to do with a pregnancy if a medical complication or other event occurred, ensuring her bodily autonomy. 

In Roe V. Wade, the name Jane Roe was an alias created by two women in 1971 in the formation of Roe V. Wade. The women argued that the legislation initiated by Texas was unfair to women. At the time, the law stated that abortion was only to be legal in cases in which the procedure was necessary to save the mother’s life. After much discourse, on Jan. 22, 1973, the Supreme Court voted to change the laws that were put in place, allowing for women to receive an abortion even if not medically necessary. 

Since the overturning in 2022, state legislatures decide whether or not to legally protect abortions. This has caused a newfound sense of  controversy surrounding whether or not women should have access to an abortion. While there was controversy surrounding this issue before, it was amplified after the 2022 incident. 

However, in the Nov. 7 general election, Ohio voters approved an amendment to the constitution that ensures a woman’s access to abortion. This was the seventh state in which voters decided to protect abortion rights. This is a landmark ruling for women in Ohio, as they now are legally able to obtain an abortion. 

What makes the amendment so significant is the 2022 overturning of Roe V. Wade, and the fight that many women across the country have been fighting for their reproductive rights since the overturning. This amendment holds significance in the fact that, in the past, Ohio was a state in which voters tended to vote for former president Donald Trump. Political parties do tend to align themselves with certain views regarding women’s rights in electoral matters. Some believe that women do deserve reproductive rights, while other groups, namely Republicans, hold the belief that many women should not be allowed access to an abortion. 

With the presidential election occurring next year, current and future voters need to be paying attention to such issues. Current President Joe Biden has stated that abortion will be a central focus of his campaign when he runs for president next year. If you still need to register to vote and are of age to do so, visit this link to learn how to register.