What to know about Issue 1 in Ohio, the abortion access ballot measure, ahead of Election Day 2023

Washington — Ohio voters head to the polls Tuesday to weigh in on a closely watched proposal to establish a constitutional right to abortion in what will be an early test of whether Democrats can successfully use the issue to mobilize voters in next year's congressional and presidential elections.

The ballot measure, known as Issue 1, is the only one involving abortion that will be directly before voters this year. But following the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade roughly 17 months ago, Ohio is one of several states where abortion rights supporters are looking to citizen-driven ballot initiatives to expand reproductive rights after stringent restrictions were allowed to take effect.

If voters approve Issue 1 and agree to amend the state constitution to enshrine abortion rights, it would extend the winning streak by pro-abortion rights groups after they saw success in all six states where abortion-related measures were on ballots last year.