Record-Breaking Voter Turnout in Ohio Special Election Aimed at Blocking Abortion Legislation

Early turnout is high for the Ohio special election, which aims to raise the winning threshold for a referendum from a simple majority to 60 percent, potentially hindering a ballot measure that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. Democratic-leaning voters are turning out in higher numbers than Republicans, with women showing higher turnout than men. Polling shows that Ohioans overwhelmingly support the abortion amendment itself but oppose the effort to change the amendment process. The special election, authorized by Ohio Republicans, is estimated to cost $20 million and has faced conservative attempts to block it. Ohio will be the seventh state to put abortion to a statewide vote after the fall of Roe, and the pro-choice position has won all six times so far.