CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — In a blow to proponents of Issue 1, election results and preliminary data indicated a growing margin against the measure. With approximately 25% of the votes tallied, the call was made at around 8:30 p.m.
The proposed Issue 1, aimed at reshaping the process of amending Ohio’s constitution, encountered strong opposition from voters across various segments of the state’s populace. Residents from extensive urban centers, as well as suburban and rural regions, joined forces to voice their dissent against the potential changes.
Early returns unveiled a stark picture of the issue’s struggle for support. Larger counties, including Franklin, Hamilton, Cuyahoga, Lucas, Montgomery, and Stark, exhibited a notable trend of unfavorable votes. Furthermore, in the early stages of the night, Issue 1 faced substantial resistance in suburban and rural counties such as Butler, Clermont, and Warren near Cincinnati, alongside Delaware, Fairfield, and Pickaway counties neighboring Columbus, as well as Ross County.
In Ross County, with only 35% of the vote in at 8:30 p.m., nearly 60% had voted the measure down. By the end of the night, however, the county voted in favor of the issue in a 54% to 45% vote, or what is better known as 8,282 in the affirmative and 6,992 against.
Had Issue 1 triumphed, opponents said the ramifications would have been profound. The amendment’s central proposition was to institute a more stringent threshold for enacting new constitutional amendments. Under its provisions, a supermajority of 60% voter approval would have been required, replacing the current system relying on a simple majority.
“Tonight was an important victory for our state, the voters of Ohio and the principle of majority rule. Ohio Democrats were proud to play our part in stopping this political power grab by out-of-touch politicians at the statehouse – most notably Frank LaRose, who made himself the face of this effort and is now officially Ohio’s biggest loser,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters.
“But our work is far from over. Over the next 90 days, we’ll continue working to move our state forward and to protect abortion rights. Together, with the majority of Ohioans who believe in protecting reproductive rights, we’ll tell corrupt politicians trying to strip away our freedoms and pass a total abortion ban: we won’t go back.”
Notably, Issue 1 also sought to recalibrate the process of amassing support for placing an amendment on the ballot. The amendment would have necessitated citizens aspiring to initiate a constitutional change to secure signatures from a minimum of 5% of voters who participated in the latest gubernatorial election, spanning all 88 counties. This marked a departure from the existing requirement, which mandates signatures from voters in only 44 counties.
In addition, the proposed amendment aimed to eliminate a specific provision that had historically allowed individuals to rectify any signatures deemed faulty by the secretary of state’s office within a designated 10-day cure period. This provision was intended to enhance the accuracy and integrity of the signature collection process.
As the election night unfolded and the outcome of Issue 1 became more evident, proponents and opponents alike were left to contemplate the implications of this decision for Ohio’s constitutional amendment procedures moving forward. While the defeat of Issue 1 became increasingly apparent, the definitive verdict rested upon the completion of the vote counting process and the finalization of results from all precincts statewide.