Ohio Approves Language Of Anti-Choice ‘Personhood’ Amendment

In a vote along party lines yesterday, the Ohio Ballot Board agreed to allow voters to consider Ohio’s “personhood” amendment as a single amendment to the Ohio Constitution. The amendment declares that “a person exists upon fertilization of a female egg,” thus “outlawing abortions by giving legal status to a fetus.” The ambiguity of bills like this could lead to a ban on birth control and even in-vitro fertilization for couples trying to conceive a child. The 3–2 vote now allows anti-choice advocates to begin gathering the 385,245 signatures from 44 of the state’s 88 counties needed to qualify for the November ballot.