Backers of reproductive rights amendment to Ohio's constitution start gathering signatures

Groups that want to put a proposal before voters this fall to enshrine abortion into the Ohio constitution took their petition signature gathering efforts for a “trial run" this weekend, knowing they have a short timeline to make the ballot. And they say it was a success.

Drive-through petition signing sites were set up in Geauga, Warren and Medina Counties by Red Wine & Blue, a group that focuses on engaging women in suburban swing districts in the political process, often for Democratic causes.

Its founder, Katie Paris, said she expected a lot of women of child-bearing age to take interest in the efforts. But she said she was pleasantly surprised by those who she didn’t necessarily expect to show up.

“There was a set of grandparents that showed up and they drove 40 minutes from Clermont County [to the Warren County site]. They said it was because they four daughters and six granddaughters,” Paris said. “And nothing was going to stop them from being among the first signers of this petition," Paris said.