The following is a statement from Brent Edwards, Organizing Manager for Rural Organizing based in Ohio:
Today, Ohio voters delivered an overwhelming victory for reproductive rights by passing Issue 1. We want to congratulate our colleagues and partners — and the voters of Ohio — who made this critical win possible.
This result is a rebuke to the fiercely right-wing Ohio legislature, which has relentlessly passed anti-choice bills, putting lives at risk and forcing women to travel out of state for the care that they need. This amendment acts as a blocker against these bills that seek to limit the ability to choose one’s reproductive destiny.
Rural Organizing was crucial in the passage of this constitutional amendment. Since June, our local canvassers have been knocking and talking to likely and persuadable voters about the importance of passing Issue 1. Through their efforts we have made over 30,000 contact attempts at the doors, which has resulted in nearly 7,000 conversations. In addition, we distributed thousands of yard signs to voters in rural communities.
These two factors came together this year to pass a groundbreaking constitutional amendment that enshrines into Ohio law the right for every individual to make their own choices on contraception, abortion, miscarriage care and fertility treatment.
The voters of Ohio, including many rural voters, showed up and made Ohio a safer place and delivered a strong rebuke to the right-wing controlled GOP legislature.
The following is a statement from Matt Hildreth, Executive Director of Rural Organizing:
On behalf of Rural Organizing, I want to congratulate and thank everyone who made today’s victory possible. The voters of Ohio — like voters in Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Michigan, California and Vermont — delivered an overwhelming victory for reproductive rights by passing Issue 1.
Today’s victory in Ohio validates two long-standing tenets of RuralOrganizing.org’s philosophy, both of which defy conventional wisdom. First, traditional organizing — the hard work of neighbors speaking to neighbors, having conversations about local issues — is the most effective way to ensure long-standing progressive change. And, as I’ve said since the inception of Rural Organizing, I’ve been told “you can’t talk about abortion.” Our research found that not to be the case and the results in Ohio, like the other states, have proven it. In fact, abortion may be one of the only policies that’s actually moving voters.
Direct voter contact is key to winning elections, especially in rural communities often overlooked by campaigns. The two referendums in Ohio this year gave us invaluable insights into the work that needs to be done and Rural Organizing is doubling down on our winning strategy for 2024.
