Both sides of abortion issue claim misconduct in signature-gathering push

As the deadline approaches for petition signatures that would bring a November vote on abortion rights, both sides of the volatile issue are accusing the other of questionable conduct.

The clash could prove a mild preview for what may come in campaigns for both the August special election and the likely abortion vote in November.

"We’ve had our signature collectors experience some harassment from folks," Cole Wojdacz, statewide field manager for Pro-Choice Ohio, told ABC 6.

While the interactions have resulted in no physical altercations that she knows of, Wojdacz said, several abortion-rights petition circulators are being bullied as they try to get signatures.

"We have also seen some of the tried-and-true tactics of the intimidation and the misrepresentation and misinformation," Wojdacz said.

Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life, expressed skepticism.

"I’ve heard of zero allegations," he told 6 On Your Side. "I think it’s just a red herring. I have videos on my phone from elected officials and others across the state where Planned Parenthood signature-gatherers are walking into Wal-Marts, walking into grocery stores, and harassing customers who are there just to shop and buy groceries for their family."

Abortion rights advocates plan final petition drive at Comfest

The dispute comes as both sides prepare - albeit in very different ways - to mark the first anniversary of the US Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned the right to abortion under Roe v Wade, known as Dobbs v Jackson.

On the Saturday's anniversary, the abortion rights advocates plan a final signature push at Cincinnati's Pride celebration and the Comfest gathering in Columbus. The second event bears special significance, Wojdacz said.

"Not only is it sort of poignant to be wrapping up this weekend – the year anniversary of the Dobbs decision – Comfest is sort of where we found our community in the wake of that decision a year ago," she said. "It was a really hard day. It was a really hard weekend. And it was a really hard few weeks and months to follow. I think that we’re all really grateful to have this opportunity to be doing something really concrete and effective, kind of during this anniversary. I think it’s gonna keep a lot of us going in a time where it might have been hard to do so otherwise."

Abortion rights opponents to mark one year since death of Roe v Wade

About 25 miles north, Ohio Right to Life also will gather on the anniversary of the high court ruling.

"It’s a solemn day for the pro-life movement here in Ohio, on the anniversary," Gonidakis told ABC6.

While the decision culminated some 50 years of work against abortion rights, it represented only the beginning of the effort to provide greater support for both pre- and post-natal care, he said.

Saturday represents a work day in the effort to keep abortion rights out of the Ohio Constitution.

"Ohio Right to Life specifically will be in Delaware County," Gondakis said. "We’re going to do a launch and a rally on this Saturday, and from there we’re going to go door to door advocating for the life movement and advocating for a yes vote on Issue 1."

The August special election may determine whether Ohio's constitution will guarantee abortion rights - or not

State Issue 1 is critical to Ohio’s battle over abortion rights. If voters approve, the threshold to pass a constitutional amendment would be 60% instead of the current simple majority, or 50% plus 1.

In other words, if Issue 1 passes in August, abortion rights supporters would need to win support from 60% of Ohio voters in November. If it fails, the amount would remain at the current simple majority in place for more than 100 years.

"In order to protect our constitution from Planned Parenthood and the ACLU," Gondakis said, "we need to have a 'yes' vote in August on Issue 1."

That means both sides on this volatile issue essentially must run two campaigns at once: one for the August 8 special election, the other for the presumed November 7 vote.

Both are expected to garner significant national attention and campaign cash.

"We’ve pretty much suspended operations as it relates to our normal day-to-day jobs," the Right to Life leader said.

Back at Pro-Choice Ohio headquarters, Wojdacz said she has to worry about qualifying the abortion issue for the fall ballot before turning her attention to the upcoming election campaigns.

Petition forms are flowing in with names of tens of thousands Ohioans who want a statewide vote in the November general election on whether abortion should be protected by the state constitution.

Wojdacz said the goal remains to get close to double the minimum of 413,446 valid signatures of registered Ohio voters by the July 5 deadline to qualify for the fall ballot.

"We are on track – I would actually say a little bit ahead of schedule," she said. "We are really confident where our numbers are. I’m really excited. We have seen an overwhelming amount of support from across the state."

drowland@sbgtv.com

@darreldrowland