Ohioans Reject Ballot Initiative Restricting Constitutional Amendments
Unprecedented Turnout and Out-of-State Spending Mark August Election
Ohioans have delivered a resounding rejection to a ballot initiative that aimed to heighten the criteria for adopting constitutional amendments through citizen-led ballot initiatives.
The initiative’s defeat, set against a backdrop of unprecedented voter participation and substantial out-of-state funding, has implications for an impending abortion referendum scheduled for November.
As of Wednesday afternoon, with 95% of the votes counted, approximately 57% voted against Issue 1, while about 43% supported the initiative.
The “yes” vote aligned with a call to raise the voting threshold for passing a constitutional amendment via a citizen-led ballot initiative.
The proposed alteration would have necessitated a 60% majority for an initiative to succeed.
The defeat of this amendment leaves a simple majority as the requirement for victory in a ballot initiative.
Remarkable Voter Turnout
Tuesday’s turnout surged far beyond recent August elections, recording a nearly fivefold increase.
Over 3 million voters participated in the election, a significant rise compared to the 638,708 individuals who voted in the primary election on August 8, 2022.
This turnout dwarfs past primary elections, with approximately 1.7 million voters in the May 2022 primary, around 1.8 million in the March 2020 primary, and roughly 1.7 million in the May 2018 primary.
With the rejection of the August 8 initiative, proponents of abortion rights will now only require a simple majority to advance their cause, as opposed to the previously envisioned 60% threshold if Issue 1 had been approved.
Diverse Interests Propel Turnout
Multiple factors influenced this high-turnout election.
An initiative to elevate the minimum wage via a constitutional amendment could potentially appear on the November ballot, contingent on garnering adequate signatures.
Advocates for gun control, environmental groups, and unions, who hold limited influence in the Republican-controlled Legislature, aimed to maintain the simple majority standard.
Groups advocating for a “yes” vote included pro-life organizations, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, various business associations, and pro-gun entities that aimed to prevent potential ballot initiatives jeopardizing their interests.
Influx of External Funding
Given the stakes of diverse issues, out-of-state organizations injected funds into campaigns either supporting or opposing Issue 1.
Interest groups collectively spent roughly $20 million on the campaign, with over 80% of this funding originating from outside Ohio.
The “no” campaign outspent the “yes” campaign nearly threefold.
Approximately $15 million was invested in the campaign against Issue 1, with around 85% sourced from out-of-state contributors.
A significant portion of these funds was funneled through the Sixteen Thirty Fund and the Tides Foundation, enabling donors to contribute to left-wing causes anonymously.
Similarly, external funds predominated the “yes” campaign, amounting to nearly $5 million.
The bulk of this funding, approximately $4 million, came from a single donor: Richard Uihlein, an Illinois-based businessman known for his support of conservative political initiatives.
Impact of Abortion Views
Public sentiment on abortion likely influenced the election outcome and heightened voter engagement.
A USA TODAY Network/Suffolk University survey of 500 likely voters from July 9 to July 12 indicated that about 58% of Ohioans favored the proposed abortion referendum, while only 32% opposed it.
With Issue 1’s defeat, both pro-life and pro-abortion factions are gearing up for the upcoming battle over the November 7 referendum.
The outcome will determine whether a constitutional right to abortion will be enshrined in Ohio law.
