What to know about Ohio’s special election, and what you’re voting on

By Staff report
A precinct worker holds a roll of “I Voted” stickers next to a voting machine as voters cast their ballots.
A precinct worker holds a roll of “I Voted” stickers next to a voting machine as voters cast their ballots.

Today is the first day ballots will be available to registered voters to vote early and make their voices heard on State Issue 1, the only issue on the ballot for the election officially set for Aug. 8.

Yesterday was the last day to register for the special election. There are nearly 8 million registered voters in Ohio.

What issue is on the ballot?

State Issue 1 is an amendment about raising the standards for proposed amendments to the Ohio constitution in coming years.

According to WOSU’s Ohio voter guide if Issue 1 passes, it “would raise the threshold for passing future constitutional changes from a simple majority, as it’s been for more than a century, to 60 percent.”

A simple majority is 50.01%.

“August 8 provides an opportunity for Ohioans to democratically determine how Ohio’s constitution is to be regarded, and I encourage everyone to participate in an election that addresses the foundational, governing document of our state,” said Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

If you vote yes, you’ll be supporting amending the Ohio Constitution to require a 60% majority from voters to approve a constitutional amendment.

Voting no means you want to keep the simple majority of 50.01% to approve changing the state constitution.

“Please encourage friends, family members and anyone who is currently unregistered to vote to register now, and engage in our democratic process and help shape the future of our state,” said LaRose.

You can also read the ballot language here, which also includes proposed changes to petitioning and signatures required for future constitutional changes.

How to cast your ballot

Ohio voters can cast their ballots in one of three ways:

  1. Early in-person
  2. Vote-by-mail
  3. On Aug. 8 Election Day

Find your official polling location on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.

County boards of elections will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for early in-person voting.

You can find the early voting schedule here. Voters can also vote by mail; learn how to request your absentee ballot at VoteOhio.gov.

Local event in response to Issue 1

A few Trumbull County organizations are encouraging locals to vote no on Issue 1.

The Trumbull County Young Democrats, Trumbull County Democratic Party and the Mahoning/Trumbull County Democratic Women’s Caucus will hold a joint Vote No on Issue 1 Early Vote Rally.

The really is happening at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 13, at the Trumbull County Board of Elections in Warren.

For more information on voting, visit VoteOhio.gov.

Sign up to be a poll worker here.

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Aaron Moody is a sports and general reporter for the News & Observer. Here is a second sentence for the bio because it will probably be longer than this. Maybe even longer I don't know. Support my work with a digital subscription

This story was originally published July 11, 2023 at 11:00 AM