Voters in the Republican-controlled state of Ohio on Tuesday approved a proposal to revise the state constitution to enshrine the protection of abortion rights in the fundamental law, another victory for those who defend it and, potentially, a signal for the policy atmosphere ahead of the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

According to the predictions of the television networks CNN and ABC News, “yes” prevailed. The revision guarantees the right of each and every person to “make and exercise” their own decisions on matters such as abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, abortion.

Predictions of the result caused an outpouring of joy at an alliance gathering pro-abortion in Columbus, midwestern state capital.

“Winning was the only option and we did it together!”, emphasized an organizer from the podium, cheered by the crowd, “it’s our bodies, our rights!”, added a second.

The two camps waged a bitter campaign, spending millions of dollars and buying time for a veritable barrage of television ads, while also sending thousands of volunteers to knock on voters’ doors to recruit them each to their cause.

The test vote was closely watched across the country, especially as it allows conclusions to be drawn about the trend ahead of the 2024 elections.

Democratic President Joe Biden was quick to express his satisfaction with the outcome. “Democracy won”, he emphasized in a statement released by his services. The “extreme and dangerous” plan of anti-abortion opponents is opposed by “the vast majority of Americans,” he said.

Ohio was added to the states – where both Democrats and Republicans govern – which since last year they have voted in favor of protecting the right to abortionto the consternation of the American right.

This issue causes a great mobilization. Even among those who say they do not embrace progressive ideas, the bans and restrictions that have been imposed by some states are viewed as overly radical measures.

After the US Supreme Court struck down constitutional protections for the right to abortion at the federal level in the summer of 2022, states were asked to legislate on the issue. Some restricted it or banned abortion altogether, others strengthened it. In Ohio, a right-wing effort to complicate referendums, particularly on abortion, failed in August.

His defenders managed to gather hundreds of thousands of signatures to organize a public consultation on the revision of the state constitution to be enshrined. They aimed to overturn a law that came into force after the Supreme Court’s ruling that banned abortion in most cases, even if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest, once the fetal heartbeat can be detected. That is, around six weeks of pregnancy, when in most cases a woman does not even know she is pregnant yet.

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The controversial law has been suspended due to a legal battle. Consequently, abortion in Ohio remains legal until about the 22nd week of pregnancy.

But during the time the extremely restrictive law was implemented, a 10-year-old girl, who was left pregnant by his rapist, had to go to neighboring Indiana to have an abortion. The case shocked the state — and the entire country.

Meanwhile, in the socially very conservative state of Kentucky, Democratic governor Andy Beshear managed to be re-elected for four years, beating David Cameron, according to US media forecasts. Mr. Beshear has made protecting the right to abortion a centerpiece of his campaign.

President Biden immediately called him to congratulate him.

At the same time in Virginia, where state congressional elections were held, if the Republicans prevail Governor Glenn Youngin may try to proceed with the imposition of measures restricting the right to abortion.

It is typical that in 2020 in Ohio, Donald Trump won with a difference of eight points, while in Kentucky he had triumphed with a difference of 25 points, without this preventing his defeat.

The votes in these two states were held with only 10 weeks to go until the start of the 2024 presidential nomination in Iowa.