The Quickie: Abortion is on the Ballot (Again)

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.

Good afternoon, readers! It’s another busy Tuesday in the repro world with an election, a ballot measure campaign launch, and two oral arguments in state courts. 

It’s also the writer of the Quickie’s last day at PPAF, but never fear–the Quickie lives on! Tune back in tomorrow for another great edition. Signing off for the last time – enjoy! 

In today’s Quickie: Ohioans head to the polls to defend democracy, AZ advocates launch abortion ballot initiative, and oral arguments on KS abortion restrictions today. 

OHIOANS HEAD TO THE POLLS TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY: It’s another election day, and this time democracy itself is on the ballot. For the first time since 1926, Ohioans are heading to the polls for a statewide election in August, voting on a ballot measure to undermine ballot measures. Yes, you read that correctly.  

Anti-abortion politicians are so desperate to push through their unpopular agenda that they’ve scheduled a special election to raise the thresholds to initiate and pass a ballot measure like the reproductive freedom amendment on the ballot this November. 

“We are deeply opposed to Issue 1 because it is special interests and corrupt politicians trying to gain more power for themselves and take away Ohioans’ right to one-person, one-vote, to democracy and of course to their ability to vote in November to protect reproductive freedom,” said Lauren Blauvelt, the vice president of government affairs and public advocacy at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. 

Ohioans are fired up about this election, with early voting already exceeding the May 2022 presidential primary date. 

As Strict Scrutiny Podcast hosts and law professors Melissa Murray and Kate Shaw write for the New York Times:

“Direct democracy is by no means a panacea. But it is an important mechanism for preserving a role for the people. That’s especially true at this moment, with grossly gerrymandered legislatures passing draconian bans that endanger women’s health and freedom — and with threats to democracy extending well beyond the topic of abortion.”

Read more at The Columbus Dispatch and NPR. 

ARIZONA FOR ABORTION ACCESS LAUNCHES BALLOT INITIATIVE CAMPAIGN: Today, a coalition of Arizona organizations launched the campaign Arizona for Abortion Access, filing for a November 2024 ballot initiative that would establish a fundamental right to abortion in the state constitution. Abortion has been banned in Arizona after 15 weeks of pregnancy since last September, denying pregnant Arizonans the freedom to decide what is best for their own health and lives even in critical circumstances. Now, this broad coalition — which includes Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, Affirm Sexual and Reproductive Health, NARAL Arizona, ACLU of Arizona, Healthcare Rising, and Arizona List — is fighting back.  

“Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona is proud to be a part of this coalition taking the fight for the right to abortion to the ballot,” said Chris Love, Senior Advisor for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. “Every Arizonan should have the freedom to make decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures. We know the work for achieving reproductive freedom is an uphill battle, and this ballot initiative is the next critical step in our renewed drive to protect the health and freedom of our patients and our communities.”

A strong majority of Arizonans support the right to abortion in all or most cases, and advocates are confident that they’ll show up to the polls. Arizona joins the list of states pursuing pro-abortion rights measures in 2024, including Florida, New York, and Maryland.  

Read more at the Washington Post. 

TODAY: ORALS ARGUMENTS IN CASE AGAINST KANSAS ABORTION RESTRICTIONS: Today, a Kansas state trial court judge will hear oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging several onerous restrictions on abortion services. The plaintiffs, including Planned Parenthood Great Plains, will argue that these requirements violate the state constitution, including the right to free speech and patients’ right to an abortion. 

WHEN: TODAY, Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 2 PM CT / 3 PM ET 

WHERE: Courtroom 2D, Division 12 of the Johnson County District Court, 150 W Santa Fe St, Olathe, KS 66061. *The hearing will not be livestreamed.  

Kansas abortion providers challenged the restrictions in June. The challenged restrictions include the state’s entire biased counseling scheme, which forces providers to falsely tell patients that medication abortion can be reversed; a forced delay period prior to abortion; and medically unnecessary bureaucratic regulations. 

"Kansas lawmakers continued their attacks on reproductive freedom this legislative session by enacting harmful restrictions that delay patients' care and subject them to lies about a safe and effective medical procedure," Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement in June. "Make no mistake: these laws are designed to shame and stigmatize people as part of a broader effort to make abortion inaccessible. We will not stand by as Kansans' rights continue to be undermined — especially after they made their support for abortion access resoundingly clear last summer.”   

Read more at AP.