Abortion Rights Effort Spurs Bid to Change Ohio Constitution (1)

Republican lawmakers in Ohio, faced with the possibility that voters could enshrine abortion access in the state constitution, are trying to prevent that from happening by beating the reproductive rights activists to the polls.

They’re moving toward setting a special election for Aug. 8, when the electorate would be asked to make it harder for future constitutional amendment drives to succeed. It’s the latest in a series of ballot-box battles growing out of the US Supreme Court decision last year that overturned Roe v Wade.

If the voters agree in August, the new rules would be in place for ...