The Quickie: Abortion Is On The Ballot

Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie'' online here.

In today’s Quickie: Ohio’s final push for the Reproductive Rights Amendment, Pennsylvania can’t trust Carluccio with their rights, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorses pro-sexual and reproductive rights candidates in the House for re-election.

OHIO IS RALLYING FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AMENDMENT IN FINAL PUSH AHEAD OF TUESDAY’S ELECTION: Throughout the weekend, supporters of Ohio’s reproductive rights amendment rallied voters in a final push before election day. They’re working against the full force of the state government, which has purged thousands of voters, lifted disinformation on official channels, and put false claims directly on the ballot itself. But advocates and voters alike remain hopeful that Ohio voters will approve Issue 1 on Tuesday. Early voting has been high and on track to exceed turnout in the August election, when voters rejected a measure that would have undermined future ballot initiatives. 

Ohioans United for Reproductive Freedom continues to reach voters at the doors and on the airwaves, including with advertisements centering Ohioans who have had abortions. In one ad, abortion funder and advocate Jordyn tells voters, “My abortion was absolutely the right decision for me. And it is heartbreaking to me to think about generations of future Ohioans who might not have the same rights.”

REMINDER: PENNSYLVANIA CAN’T TRUST CAROLYN CARLUCCIO TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS: Just days before Tuesday’s Pennsylvania Supreme Court election, Carolyn Carluccio finally admitted that an abortion ban could come before her — but still refused to say how she’d rule. When pressed by NBC 10 reporter Lauren Mayk, Carluccio said that a ban needs to get through the legislature and the governor, “a very high bar to say it’s not constitutional.” 

“Carolyn Carluccio’s latest claims about the judiciary’s role in protecting Pennsylvanians’ abortion access are laughable,” said Breana Ross, campaign director for Planned Parenthood Votes in Pennsylvania. “We know that the possibility of a court challenge has never stopped hostile lawmakers from passing abortion bans. In fact, that’s the strategy they used to get Roe overturned. Anti-abortion interests are relying on Carolyn Carluccio to rubber-stamp an abortion ban for Pennsylvania — and to take away reproductive freedom for generations of Pennsylvanians. We cannot afford to put someone like her on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.”

The threat to Pennsylvanians’ freedom posed by Carluccio cannot be understated.  As advocates explained to The Guardian, this election is about the court’s long-term prospects.  Elected PA Supreme Court justices serve at least a 10 year term, potentially up until they are 75 years old. If legislative and gubernatorial power shifts, a ban could easily end up before Carluccio. 

THE ROAD TO 2024: PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND ENDORSES 70 PRO- SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CANDIDATES  IN THE HOUSE FOR RE-ELECTION: Today, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund announced its latest round of endorsements of 70 candidates in the House in their bids for re-election. The majority of the country supports protecting access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion, free from the interference of politicians. Anti-abortion politicians in the House have shown time and time again that they are willing to do just about anything to continue their attack on our reproductive freedom. Even some Senate Republicans are saying hold up – this could crush us in the 2024 election if the House keeps it up. But we know they can’t help themselves. Re-electing the candidates endorsed today is one step towards reclaiming the reproductive rights majority in the House.