Planned Parenthood: Ohio Voter Purge Case Ruling Threatens Voters’ Ability to Fight Attacks on Their Bodies, Health, and Lives

Washington, DC —  Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to allow Ohio to revoke the registration of eligible voters simply because they were unable or chose not to vote in the past six years. Voting is one of the most important tools people have to advocate for their fundamental human rights — including access to reproductive health care, LGBTQ rights, and racial justice – and this ruling empowers states to strip people of their voting rights.

Statement from Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

There are many reasons why someone may decide not to or may not be able to exercise their right to vote, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for states to strip away that right altogether. The Supreme Court’s ruling has enormous implications for the rights of millions of voters and their ability to fight back against oppressive and dangerous policies that control their bodies, health, and lives. When it comes to elections, we should be removing barriers to voting, not creating them.

Pushing Ohioans off the voter rolls is just one action in a larger effort to hinder turnout at the polls and disenfranchise people of color, people with low incomes, people with disabilities, and young people. Last year, instead of working to strengthen the Voting Rights Act and end the strategic suppression of people of color’s right to vote, President Trump created a commission to investigate his widely disproven and racially charged claims of voter fraud in an attempt to further suppress the vote and undermine the integrity of U.S. elections. Planned Parenthood condemned this attempt by the Trump administration to disenfranchise Americans and the deeply unpopular commission was disbanded.

As a health care provider, Planned Parenthood is committed to fighting for justice for every person, and empowering everyone to participate fully in their communities and the democratic process. Planned Parenthood continues to join voting rights advocates in condemning voter suppression and standing against the discriminatory tactics — like implementing voter ID laws and limiting early voting — that are systematically used to target communities of color, people with low incomes, people with disabilities, and young people. 

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