COLUMBUS, Ohio — You've probably seen advertising for Ohio Issue 1 in recent weeks ahead of the Nov. 7 general election. But what does Ohio Issue 1 mean for you? What changes would it make? How soon would those changes take effect?
We answer those questions and more to break down both sides of the issue throughout the story below...
WHAT IS ISSUE 1?
Issue 1 puts the debate about abortion rights into the hands of Ohio voters.
Ohio Issue 1 "would establish an individual right to one's own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion."
This ballot initiative comes after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, and individual states were given the opportunity to decide their own laws on the matter.
ISSUE 1 RESULTS
WHAT WOULD CHANGE IF ISSUE 1 PASSES?
Here is how Issue 1’s changes are outlined by the certified ballot language:
- Establish in the Constitution of the State of Ohio an individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion;
- Create legal protections for any person or entity that assists a person with receiving reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion;
- Prohibit the State from directly or indirectly burdening, penalizing or prohibiting abortion before an unborn child is determined to be viable, unless the State demonstrates that it is using the least restrictive means;
- Grant a pregnant woman’s treating physician the authority to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether an unborn child is viable;
- Only allow the State to prohibit an abortion after an unborn child is determined by a pregnant woman’s treating physician to be viable and only if the physician does not consider the abortion necessary to protect the pregnant woman’s life or health;
- Always allow an unborn child to be aborted at any stage of pregnancy, regardless of viability if, in the treating physician’s determination, the abortion is necessary to protect the pregnant woman’s life of health.
Editor's Note: The certified ballot language has been a source of controversy leading up to the election. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose opted not to put the full text of the amendment on the ballot. Below is the entire text.
HOW SOON WOULD ISSUE 1 TAKE EFFECT?
If passed, Issue 1 would take effect 30 days after the election.
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM THE ISSUE 1 FROM AUGUST?
You may remember Ohio voters recently defeated a different Issue 1 during the Aug. 8 special election. Had that issue passed, Ohio would have required more than 60 percent of the vote to pass future constitutional amendments in the state instead of a simple majority.
While these issues are different, both have an abortion connection.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose had said Issue 1 on the August ballot was "100% about keeping a radical, pro-abortion amendment out of our constitution," according to a previous report from the Associated Press.
Had Issue 1 passed in August, the upcoming abortion amendment would have required 60 percent of the vote instead of the simple majority.
"Since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion was overturned last summer, amendments protecting access to abortion in other states, even conservative ones, have passed handily -- but generally with less than 60 percent of the vote," according to the AP.
WHEN ARE THE POLLS OPEN?
Polls are open throughout Ohio for the Nov. 7 general election from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Remember, you are still permitted to vote as long as you're in line before the polls close at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE IS MY POLLING PLACE?
You can find your polling location HERE.
WHAT FORM OF ID SHOULD I BRING SO I CAN VOTE?
You need to have a form of ID with you to cast a ballot on election day. Acceptable forms of identification as listed by the Secretary of State's office are as follows:
- Ohio driver's license;
- State of Ohio ID card;
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV;
- A US passport;
- A US passport card;
- US military ID card;
- Ohio National Guard ID card; or
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
All photo IDs must have the following:
- An expiration date that has not passed;
- A photograph of the voter;
- The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book
Ohio law prohibits acceptance of the following forms of ID:
- Driver’s license or photo identification card issued by a state other than Ohio;
- Social Security card
- Birth certificate
- Insurance card
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Other government document
- Any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections
WHAT IF I FORGET MY ID?
"If you do not provide one of the above forms of photo ID, you will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot," according to the Secretary of State. "However, for that ballot to be counted, you must return to the board of elections no later than four days following Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification. If you do not have a photo ID because of a religious objection to being photographed, you may complete an affidavit of religious objection and have your provisional ballot count."
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE?
That deadline has now passed. It was Tuesday, Oct. 10.
WHAT WERE THE DATES FOR ABSENTEE VOTING AND EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING?
- Wednesday, Oct. 11: Absentee voting by mail and early in-person voting begin.
- Sunday, Nov. 5: Last day for early in-person voting.
- Monday, Nov. 6: Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by this date.
- Tuesday, Nov. 7: If not mailed, absentee ballots must be returned to your local board of elections by 7:30 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 13: This is the last day for the board of elections to receive absentee ballots that have been postmarked on or before Nov. 6.
HOW DO I TRACK MY ABSENTEE BALLOT?
Simple. There's a tracking tool for all Ohio voters to use HERE.
WHAT TIME WILL RESULTS COME IN?
We expect to see the first results shortly after 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots are the first votes counted, according to the Secretary of State's office.
WHERE CAN I WATCH FOR RESULTS?
WKYC will share the special election results with updates on Issue 1 after the polls close, which you can check at wkyc.com/elections. Be sure to follow WKYC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for complete coverage. Here's what you can expect from 3News:
- Breaking election results will be available through push alerts with the free WKYC app. You can download our news app here: Android, Apple.
- Results and reaction as our reporters bring you the latest details regarding Ohio Issue 1. Watch for these updates during our newscasts at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
- A complete wrap up the following morning on GO! from 4:30-7 a.m.
- Subscribe to our free 3News to GO! newsletter HERE to have the election results and other top headlines sent straight to your e-mail inbox.