Disclaimer: This article is NOT intended to favor one side over the other. It is simply meant to inform readers about the concept of Issue 1. The information included in this piece is from the official website of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. To learn more, click here.

With Election Day right around the corner on Tuesday, Nov. 7, hundreds of political signs have been posted around the community about Issue 1, a popular news topic this voting season.

Issue 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment related to abortion and reproductive choices. If passed, it would establish the right for one to determine their reproductive medical treatment, produce legal protections for anyone assisting others with receiving it and prohibit the state of Ohio from discouraging abortion before an unborn child is determined as capable of living.

In addition, Issue 1 grants physicians of pregnant women the ability to decide whether an unborn child can survive and allows the State of Ohio to only prohibit abortion when an unborn child is able to live and the physician declares an abortion unnecessary to protect the life and health of the pregnant woman. It will allow abortion regardless of the stage of pregnancy for the sake of the mother’s life and health. If Issue 1 is passed, it will become effective 30 days after the election.

Issue 1 bars procedures such as in-person abortions and being transported to the hospital if something goes wrong.

If Issue 1 were to fail, abortion would be banned unilaterally including in rape cases, incest and when the life of the pregnant mother is at risk. It also stops the government from punishing parents wanting to find doctors that care for abortion or miscarriage.

Voting yes on Issue 1 also enables specialists to make decisions related to the timing and method of abortion procedures. In addition, abortion will be permitted due to the child being born with a specific sex, race or disability.

Mallory Dunlap ‘24 is the President of JCU Votes and one of her roles is to “increase civic engagement throughout the John Carroll student body.” Dunlap stresses that as citizens, “we need to be informed voters.”

When asked about advice she would give for voting on Election Day, Dunlap told The Carroll News that “the general election is Nov. 7th. If you are a registered voter for Ohio, please make sure you vote. Early voting is available until Nov. 5 and absentee ballots must be requested seven days before Election Day.”

“A reminder I would give to someone making plans to vote in-person for this upcoming election is to make sure you have at least one of these forms of identification with you: an Ohio driver’s license, a U.S. passport, a U.S. Military ID card, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card or an Ohio National Guard ID card,” Dunlap continued.“One resource available to everyone is vote411.org, which can answer nearly any question you may have when voting and offers non-partisan information.

Dunlap states that if anyone has questions regarding voting, she is available via email at [email protected].