ISSUE 1: AUGUST SPECIAL ELECTION
This past Aug. 8, Ohio voters rejected a closely watched proposal known as Issue 1 that would’ve made it more difficult to amend the state constitution. This delivered a victory to pro-abortion rights supporters ahead of a November vote on enshrining reproductive rights in the Ohio Constitution.The high-stakes special election was imposed by Republican lawmakers. Issue 1 would have raised the threshold for approving future changes to the state constitution through the ballot box from a majority of 50% to 60%.
“By rejecting Issue 1, Ohioans rejected special interests and demanded that democracy remain where it belongs—in the hands of voters, not the rich and powerful,” Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) posted on X.
On election day, a higher number of Ohio’s registered voters cast ballots–with over three million Ohioans voting. Ohio voted 57.0% no and 43.0% yes, according to the Associated Press. The outcome maintained the voting bar that has been in place since 1912.
ISSUE 1: REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade – the historic decision that protected the right to an abortion in the United States – in a six-to-three decision. On Nov. 7, Ohioans will be able to cast their vote on whether or not abortion should be legalized in Ohio on Issue One on the ballot. If passed, Issue One will go into effect 30 days after the voting period.
A “no” vote opposes amending the Ohio Constitution to establish the constitutional right to reproductive freedom. If not passed, the state of Ohio will restrict abortion after fetal viability, defined by the state as “the fetus [having] a significant likelihood of
survival outside the uterus with reasonable measures.” If this isn’t passed, abortion will not be viable unless necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.
A “yes” vote means voting to amend the Ohio Constitution to establish the constitutional right to carry out one’s own reproductive decisions. The Ohio Constitution would be amended to grant all individuals the right to reproductive autonomy. Additionally, Issue One would block the state from interfering with any reproductive decisions. Decisions on abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, and miscarriage care, and will become one’s own.
If Issue One passes, abortion and other forms of reproductive health care will be protected in the state constitution.
ISSUE 2: MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION
The second issue on the ballot pertains to the legalization of recreational cannabis in Ohio.
If passed, the bill would allow individuals aged 21 and older to buy 2.5 ounces of cannabis and 15 grams of concentrate without the purchase of a medical card. Issue Two would take effect 30 days after the election, and Ohio would become the 24th state to legalize cannabis for adult use.
Under Issue Two, all cannabis products would be taxed at 10%, and the revenue would go toward a new state agency that would regulate and process the drug. A study by Ohio State University’s Drug Enforcement and Policy Center estimated the potential annual tax revenue could range from $276 million in year five of an operational cannabis market to $403 million in year five of operations.
Issue Two would also include provisions for expanding the eligibility for criminal record clearance. This would allow Ohioans who have been persecuted for cannabis charges to have their records cleared. Currently, if a person is arrested for the usage or sale of cannabis they will have a permanent cannabis record. Nationwide, cannabis arrests in 2018 accounted for 50% of all drug arrests in the United States.
If the issue is not passed the current 2016 cannabis legislation will stay in place. Under the current law, to buy cannabis, individuals are required to have a medical card.