Ohio voters projected to add abortion protections to state constitution

Ohio voters have added abortion protections to the state constitution, ABC News projects -- the latest in what has emerged as a growing string of pro-abortion rights votes around the country, in both blue and red states, in the wake of Roe v. Wade being struck down last year.

Election Day on Tuesday saw Ohio voters considering two statewide ballot initiatives: whether to guarantee abortion access and whether to legalize marijuana.

The measure to legalize marijuana will also pass, ABC News projects.

State significance

Since 1912, Ohio citizens have had the power to initiate constitutional amendments, state statutes and veto referendums.

In the year since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, the question of a woman's reproductive rights has been left to individual states, where some residents have pushed to add ballot measures and get to vote on it directly.

Tuesday's ballot measures in Ohio included Issue 1, which added a right to the state constitution to "reproductive medical treatment" and prevent bans on abortion before a fetus is viable or for the mother's health.

The second issue on the ballot, Issue 2, is the marijuana legalization initiative. The yes votes made Ohio the 24th state to legalize marijuana for recreational or personal use for adults older than 21. It also approved and regulated the growing and sale of marijuana by people 21 years or older.