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Stories about Ohio

Ohio 60% supermajority amendment to appear on the ballot on Aug. 8

By Nicole Fisher
In Ballot measures
May 12, 2023 at 6:09 PM

An amendment that would require a 60% majority from voters to approve constitutional amendments will appear on the ballot in Ohio on Aug. 8, 2023.

The Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio State Senate both voted on May 10, 2023, to send the measure to the ballot. The House voted 62-37 to pass the amendment, and the Senate voted 26-7. The measure was introduced as Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR 2).

SJR 2 also contained a provision providing for a special election to be held on Aug. 8 for voters to approve the amendment. Sen. Kent Smith (D) said the supermajority requirement would have an effect on certain ballot measures, such as a potential constitutional amendment that would provide a state right regarding abortion.

Currently, a simple majority (50.01%) of votes is needed from voters to approve a constitutional amendment in Ohio. The amendment would require a 60% majority of voters to approve a constitutional amendment.

The Save Our Constitution committee is leading the campaign in support of the initiative. Supporters of the amendment include Ohio Right to Life, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses in Ohio, the Ohio Restaurant Association, and the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association.

Speaking in support of the amendment, Rep. Brian Stewart (R) said, “Ohio’s constitution has become far too susceptible to outside groups. It is time for reform. Putting this issue in front of Ohioans, that is Democratic.”

The One Person, One Vote committee is leading the campaign opposing the initiative. Opponents include former Ohio governors Bob Taft (R), John Kasich (R), Dick Celeste (D) and Ted Strickland (D); former Ohio attorney generals Betty Montgomery (R), Jim Petro (R), Richard Cordray (D), Lee Fisher (D), and Nancy Rogers (D); the ACLU of Ohio; the Ohio AFL-CIO; and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio.

In an open letter, the former attorney generals in opposition to the amendment said, “Constitutions are designed to endure, and major changes in fundamental constitutional arrangements should not be made unless the changes are supported by a careful understanding of the policies being changed and the consequences of the proposed changes. Such changes should not be made without the opportunity for participation of those most intimately affected by the constitution — the people. Clearly, that has not happened in this rush to revise our constitution.”

Of the 49 states that require voter approval for constitutional amendments (Delaware does not require voter approval for constitutional amendments), 38 states require a simple majority vote while 11 states require a supermajority vote or other criteria that must be met for ratification. Illinois and Florida are two other states that require a 60% supermajority to approve constitutional amendments. Right now, there are also proposals in Arizona and Missouri to place supermajority requirement amendments on the ballot—a proposal in Arizona that would require a 60% voting majority, and a proposal in Missouri would require a 57% voting majority—may go to voters in 2024.

This amendment is the first statewide measure certified for the Ohio ballot in 2023.


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Marijuana legalization campaign to continue signature gathering in Ohio for 2023 ballot

By Nicole Fisher
In Ballot measures
May 9, 2023 at 10:04 AM

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the campaign supporting a marijuana legalization initiative in Ohio, began collecting a second round of signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot on Nov. 7, 2023.

Previously, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol submitted 136,729 valid signatures to the secretary of state in two separate rounds of signature gathering–the first submission of 206,943 signatures on Dec. 20, 2021, and the second submission of 29,918 signatures on Jan. 13, 2022. In Ohio, if a campaign is short of a valid signature requirement after they submit signatures, they have a one-week cure period to collect additional signatures. The secretary of state announced the number of signatures validated on Jan. 28, 2022.

On April 29, 2022, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol filed a lawsuit against state legislative leaders, arguing that legislative leaders claimed that signatures weren’t submitted in time. In a series of emails, state legislators claimed that a legislative vote can’t take place because valid signatures were not submitted 10 days prior to the start of the legislative period. The coalition and state legislative leaders ended and settled the lawsuit, allowing the coalition to resubmit the first 132,887 collected signatures at the start of the 2023 legislative session.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose put the initiative to the Ohio General Assembly at the start of their legislative session. In Ohio, initiated state statutes are indirect, meaning the state legislature must either approve the initiative, allowing it to become law, or not approving it, and letting it go to the ballot for voters to decide. The state legislature has four months to either approve the initiative, reject it, or not act on it. If the state legislature does not act on the measure or rejects it, the campaign supporting the initiative has another 90 days to collect the second round of signatures.

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has 90 days to collect another additional round of signatures, starting on May 5, 2023. An initiative would need 124,046 signatures in the second round to qualify for the 2023 ballot.

Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol spokesman Tom Haren said, “It’s going to be on the ballot and it’s going to pass. Ohio consumers will not have to rely on their drug dealers or go to Michigan. They will be able to have safe, effective and regulated adult use of cannabis right here in the Buckeye State. … The primary way that it will help Ohio is it’ll provide an alternative to the illicit and unregulated market.”

The initiative would legalize the use, possession, cultivation, and sale of recreational marijuana for adults over 21 years old. It would also enact a 10% cannabis tax rate on adult-use sales. Currently, 21 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes, and 37 states and D.C. had legalized marijuana for medical purposes.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) opposes the measure, saying, “I do not … support legalizing marijuana for recreational use. I have seen the negative effects it has had in states that have legalized it and fear that it would also lead to increased use by underage kids and that small children could consume marijuana-laced foods that look like candy.”

As of May 8, there were no ballot measures on the Nov. 7, 2023, general election ballot in Ohio. There were five potential measures that could make the ballot, including the marijuana legalization measure.

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Ohio Senate passes measure to require 60% vote requirement to approve constitutional amendments

By Nicole Fisher
In 2023 elections, Ballot measures
April 25, 2023 at 11:36 AM

The Ohio State Senate passed an amendment that would raise the threshold for voters to approve ballot measures that would amend the Ohio Constitution.

The amendment passed the Senate by 26-7 on April 19, 2023, with all Republicans voting for the amendment and all Democrats voting against it. It needs to pass the Ohio House of Representatives to go to voters.

Currently in Ohio, a simple majority (50.01%) of votes is needed from voters to approve a constitutional amendment. The amendment would require a 60% majority of voters to approve a constitutional amendment.

Sen. Rob McColley (R), speaking in support of the amendment, said, “The constitution is not meant to be a policy document. The constitution is meant to inform us as to how the government is supposed to be run and to enshrine rights for all Ohioans.”

In opposition to the amendment, Sen. Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D) said, “At face value, this sounds pretty good. Who wouldn’t want to curtail the power of rogue politicians, of special interest groups? I think we could all agree we would certainly want to stop those kinds of nefarious activities from going on. But I still don’t believe, after listening to the debate, that this is the way forward.”

Sen. Kent Smith (D) said the supermajority requirement would have an effect on certain ballot measures, such as a potential constitutional amendment that may provide a state right regarding reproductive decisions.

Of the 49 states that require voter approval for constitutional amendments (Delaware does not require voter approval for constitutional amendments), 38 states require a simple majority vote while 11 states require a supermajority vote or other criteria that must be met for ratification. Illinois and Florida are two other states that require a 60% supermajority to approve constitutional amendments.

The amendment could go to voters on a special election on Aug. 8, 2023. The Ohio Senate also passed Senate Bill 92, which would make an August special election possible. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said that he would sign the bill if it passes the House. DeWine said, “If both houses approve this and that’s the way, the direction they want to go, I’m going to sign it. I think there is some advantage to have these matters over with.”

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) said that in order for the amendment to appear on the August ballot, both measures must pass the Ohio House of Representatives before May 10, 2023.

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2024 presidential candidates campaign in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, and Ohio

By Ellen Morrissey
In 2024 elections
March 21, 2023 at 2:42 PM

As of March 15, 2024, five noteworthy candidates are running in the 2024 presidential election, including one Democrat and four Republicans.

Below is a summary of each candidate’s campaign activity from March 8 to March 15.

  • Author and 2020 presidential candidate Marianne Williamson (D) held campaign events across New Hampshire from March 8 to March 13.
  • Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley (R) campaigned in Iowa from March 8 to March 10 and held a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on March 13. During a townhall in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on March 8, Haley announced she was in favor of raising the retirement age for younger Americans.
  • Entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy (R) campaigned in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 11. He also published several op-eds. On March 8, he wrote an op-ed for the Daily Mail, and on March 12, wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, titled “SVB Doesn’t Deserve a Taxpayer Bailout.”
  • Former President Donald Trump (R) held a campaign event in Davenport, Iowa, on March 13, marking his first official campaign visit to the state this cycle. He spoke about education policy, saying he supported universal school choice, electing school principals, and eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. 
  • Former Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton (R) announced he would be campaigning in New Hampshire on March 15.

At this point in the 2020 cycle, 17 noteworthy candidates were running for president. Sixteen were seeking the Democratic nomination, and one (Trump) was seeking the Republican nomination.

Notable stories at the time included Beto O’Rourke’s (D) campaign announcement, Andrew Yang (D) reaching the donor threshold to participate in the Democratic primary debates, and the Democratic National Committee’s selection of Milwaukee to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The 2024 Republican National Convention will be held in Milwaukee, along with the first Republican presidential primary debate.

In the 2016 election cycle, no noteworthy candidates were running for president as of March 15, 2015. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was the first noteworthy candidate to announce his campaign on March 23 of that year. At this point in the 2016 cycle, candidates who would eventually declare were preparing to do so. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) hired new staff in preparation for a run, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) discussed fundraising with The Washington Post. Discussion of Hillary Clinton’s (D) private email server was in the news as well, with The Washinton Post reporting on 2020 Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush’s use of a private email server while in office as governor of Florida.

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These 10 Ohio contributors gave over $3.8 million

By Kalyn Stralow
In State
March 8, 2023 at 7:29 PM

In Ohio politics, state-level candidates and political action committees have received $195.0 million in total contributions between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2022. The 10 largest contributors gave more than $3.8 million, or 2 percent of all contributions.

These are the top 10 individual contributors to Ohio state-level candidates and committees in the 2022 election cycle, according to campaign finance reports submitted to the Ohio Secretary of State:

Top 10 Ohio Contributors (1/1/2021 – 12/31/2022)

Rank Contributor Name Total Contributions
1 Richard H Rosenthal $475,613
2 Ellen Dolores Rakowski $441,442
3 Dina and Ronald Wilheim $389,500
4 Geraldine B Warner $368,718
5 Susan B and James A Haslam III $350,351
6 Ginni D Ragan $330,571
7 Gayle and Donald A Oeters $317,100
8 Lisa Mennet $300,000
9 Reid Garrett Hoffman $274,088
10 Katherine Strauss Rosenthal $270,709

The list of Ohio contributors in this time period includes more than 1,790 individuals identified by name in the Ohio Secretary of State’s public records.

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Ohio committees submitted to the Ohio Secretary of State. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal committees are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.



The top fundraisers among Ohio statewide elected offices

By Kalyn Stralow
In State
March 8, 2023 at 2:56 PM

Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates may receive from individuals and organizations, how often they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political entities may contribute to campaigns.

While campaign finance is not the only factor in electoral outcomes, successful fundraising can provide a candidate with advantages during a campaign. Fundraising can also indicate party momentum.

This article lists top fundraisers among Ohio statewide officeholders and candidates, overall and by party. It is based on campaign finance reports that officeholders in and candidates for statewide elected offices submitted to the Ohio Secretary of State. It includes activity between July 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022.

Statewide political positions are typically offices in the executive and judicial branches of government rather than the legislative, and they most often represent all citizens in the state, rather than those in a particular district.

Top Ohio statewide fundraisers by party

The top fundraisers among Ohio statewide officeholders and candidates are shown below. Individuals are presented with the office that they were on the ballot for in 2022, if applicable. If no office is indicated, the person was an incumbent and was not on the ballot in 2022.

In the Democratic Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:

  • Nan Whaley (Governor) – $3,851,561
  • Jeff Crossman (Attorney General) – $368,411
  • Taylor Sappington (Auditor of State) – $169,397
  • Scott Schertzer (Treasurer) – $130,377
  • Chelsea Clark (Secretary of State) – $92,729

In the Republican Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:

  • Richard Michael DeWine (Governor) – $7,245,296
  • Dave Yost (Attorney General) – $1,583,519
  • Frank LaRose (Secretary of State) – $1,107,589
  • Keith Faber (Auditor of State) – $683,953
  • Robert Sprague (Treasurer) – $508,739

Fundraising totals

Overall, Democratic officeholders and candidates raised $4.6 million in this period. Republican officeholders and candidates raised $11.1 million. Combined, all statewide officeholders and candidates in the July 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022, filing period raised $15.9 million.

These were the only Democratic statewide executive fundraisers during this reporting period. These were the only Republican statewide executive fundraisers during this reporting period.

The table below provides additional data from the campaign finance reports from the top 10 fundraisers during this period.

TOP 10 FUNDRAISERS – Ohio STATEWIDE OFFICEHOLDERS AND CANDIDATES (July 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022)
Name Party Affiliation Office Sought Raised Spent
Governor Richard Michael DeWine Republican Party Governor $7,245,296 $10,016,097
Nan Whaley Democratic Party Governor $3,851,561 $4,276,821
Attorney General Dave Yost Republican Party Attorney General $1,583,519 $3,382,954
Secretary of State Frank LaRose Republican Party Secretary of State $1,107,589 $2,618,187
Auditor Keith Faber Republican Party Auditor of State $683,953 $1,044,076
Treasurer Robert Sprague Republican Party Treasurer $508,739 $1,081,931
Jeff Crossman Democratic Party Attorney General $368,411 $350,943
Terpsehore Maras Independent Secretary of State $183,837 $161,089
Taylor Sappington Democratic Party Auditor of State $169,397 $146,908
Scott Schertzer Democratic Party Treasurer $130,377 $225,999

Campaign finance reporting periods

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that candidate committees submitted to the Ohio Secretary of State. Candidate committees represent individuals who have run for state or local office at any point, including past and present officeholders. This article does not include non-candidate committees. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.



The top fundraisers in the Ohio State Senate

By Kalyn Stralow
In State
March 1, 2023 at 2:56 PM

Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates may receive from individuals and organizations, how often they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political entities may contribute to campaigns.

While campaign finance is not the only factor in electoral outcomes, successful fundraising can provide a candidate with advantages during a campaign. Fundraising can also indicate party momentum.

This article lists top fundraisers in the Ohio State Senate, overall and by party. It is based on campaign finance reports that officeholders in and candidates for the State Senate submitted to the Ohio Secretary of State. It includes activity between July 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022.

Top fundraisers in the Ohio State Senate by party

The top fundraisers in Ohio State Senate elections are shown below. Individuals are presented with the office that they were on the ballot for in 2022, if applicable.

In the Democratic Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:

  • Patricia Goetz (District 27) – $250,398
  • Tina Maharath (District 3) – $230,801
  • Nickie Antonio (District 23) – $148,900
  • William DeMora (District 25) – $120,871
  • Kent Smith (District 21) – $104,368

In the Republican Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:

  • Kristina Daley Roegner (District 27) – $2,284,139
  • Michele Reynolds (District 3) – $1,273,915
  • Nathan Manning (District 13) – $1,164,278
  • Michael Rulli (District 33) – $664,318
  • Matt Huffman – $433,109

Fundraising totals

Overall, Democratic officeholders and candidates raised $1.1 million in this period. Republican officeholders and candidates raised $8.5 million. Combined, all State Senate fundraisers in the July 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022, filing period raised $9.6 million.

The five largest Democratic fundraisers were responsible for 76 percent of all Democratic State Senate fundraising. The five largest Republican fundraisers were responsible for 68 percent of all Republican State Senate fundraising.

The table below provides additional data from the campaign finance reports from the top 10 fundraisers during this period.

TOP 10 FUNDRAISERS – OHIO STATE SENATE (July 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022)
Name Party Affiliation Raised Spent
Kristina Daley Roegner Republican Party $2,284,139 $391,315
Michele Reynolds Republican Party $1,273,915 $192,636
Nathan Manning Republican Party $1,164,278 $281,211
Michael Rulli Republican Party $664,318 $274,633
Matt Huffman Republican Party $433,109 $265,464
Robert McColley Republican Party $425,919 $351,207
Patricia Goetz Democratic Party $250,398 $451,175
Tina Maharath Democratic Party $230,801 $210,210
George Lang Republican Party $213,267 $63,329
Shane Wilkin Republican Party $203,069 $270,716

Campaign finance reporting periods

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that candidate committees submitted to the Ohio Secretary of State. Candidate committees represent individuals who have run for state or local office at any point, including past and present officeholders. This article does not include non-candidate committees. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.



The top fundraisers in the Ohio House

By Kalyn Stralow
In State
March 1, 2023 at 2:56 PM

Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates may receive from individuals and organizations, how often they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political entities may contribute to campaigns.

While campaign finance is not the only factor in electoral outcomes, successful fundraising can provide a candidate with advantages during a campaign. Fundraising can also indicate party momentum.

This article lists top fundraisers in the Ohio House of Representatives, overall and by party. It is based on campaign finance reports that officeholders in and candidates for the House submitted to the Ohio Secretary of State. It includes activity between July 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022.

Top fundraisers in the Ohio House of Representatives by party

The top fundraisers in Ohio House of Representatives elections are shown below. Individuals are presented with the office that they were on the ballot for in 2022, if applicable.

In the Democratic Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:

  • Jessica Miranda (District 28) – $282,536
  • Allison Russo (District 7) – $270,016
  • Kathleen Clyde (District 72) – $255,603
  • Rachel Baker (District 27) – $253,351
  • Casey Weinstein (District 34) – $251,234

In the Republican Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were:

  • Jay Edwards (District 94) – $746,627
  • Derek Merrin (District 42) – $681,309
  • Thomas Patton (District 17) – $528,114
  • Bill Roemer (District 31) – $432,751
  • Bob Young (District 32) – $413,043

Fundraising totals

Overall, Democratic officeholders and candidates raised $5.7 million in this period. Republican officeholders and candidates raised $12.8 million. Combined, all House fundraisers in the July 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022, filing period raised $18.6 million.

The five largest Democratic fundraisers were responsible for 23 percent of all Democratic House fundraising. The five largest Republican fundraisers were responsible for 22 percent of all Republican House fundraising.

The table below provides additional data from the campaign finance reports from the top 10 fundraisers during this period.

TOP 10 FUNDRAISERS – OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (July 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022)
Name Party Affiliation Raised Spent
Jay Edwards Republican Party $746,627 $821,843
Derek Merrin Republican Party $681,309 $333,991
Thomas Patton Republican Party $528,114 $661,289
Bill Roemer Republican Party $432,751 $137,721
Bob Young Republican Party $413,043 $85,571
Beth Bigham Republican Party $397,091 $157,101
D.J. Swearingen Republican Party $394,767 $292,601
Josh Williams Republican Party $386,651 $116,938
Andrea White Republican Party $370,569 $159,112
George Phillips Republican Party $362,078 $84,017

Campaign finance reporting periods

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that candidate committees submitted to the Ohio Secretary of State. Candidate committees represent individuals who have run for state or local office at any point, including past and present officeholders. This article does not include non-candidate committees. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.



Abortion may appear on the Ohio ballot in 2023, and other states expecting abortion-related constitutional ballot measures

By Nicole Fisher
In Ballot measures
February 22, 2023 at 11:44 AM

Two campaigns in Ohio announced that they are joining efforts to put a statewide abortion-related initiative on the ballot in 2023.

On February 16, Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom and Protect Choice Ohio said that they would file an initiative that would be similar to a measure that voters approved in Michigan in November 2022. That measure provided a state constitutional right to reproductive freedom, which was defined to include abortion, contraceptives, and pregnancy-related matters.

Kellie Copeland, the executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio and member of Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom, said, “This grassroots initiative – by and for the people of Ohio – is foundational to ensuring access to abortion and the right to bodily autonomy, not only for ourselves, but for generations to come.”

In order to qualify a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment for the November 2023 general election ballot, the campaigns must collect at least 413,488 valid signatures by the July 5, 2023, deadline. The requirement is equivalent to 10 percent of the votes cast for governor in 2022.

Dr. Lauren Beene, executive director of the Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, said, “The lives and health of Ohioans have been at risk since Roe was overturned. That is why we must seize the earliest possible opportunity to ensure that doctors and patients, rather than politicians and the government, are empowered to make decisions about pregnancy, contraception and abortion.”

In a statement on February 16, Beth Vanderkooi, the executive director of Greater Columbus Right to Life, put out a statement opposing the effort. She said, “Far left special interests and highly partisan political operatives want to permanently place dangerous and confusing language into our Constitution. This is a disingenuous effort to force their extreme views under the guise of women’s health. Ohioans won’t be fooled by their radical and out of touch agenda.”

Following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which held that the U.S. Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, there were five statewide abortion-related constitutional amendments that were decided on by voters. In 2022, voters in California, Michigan, and Vermont were the first to approve ballot measures to establish state constitutional rights to abortion. Voters in both Kentucky and Kansas rejected measures to provide that the state constitution cannot be interpreted to establish a state constitutional right to abortion.

Currently, there is one certified statewide constitutional amendment related to abortion on the ballot in 2024, and four proposed constitutional amendments that may appear on the ballot in either 2023 and 2024.

One certified constitutional amendment on the ballot:

  • The New York Equal Protection of Law Amendment, which is certified for the 2024 ballot. The amendment would add language to the New York Constitution to prohibit the denial of rights to individuals based on ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, or reproductive status.

Four proposed constitutional amendments for the ballot:

  • The Pennsylvania No State Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment, which is proposed in the state legislature for the 2023 or 2024 ballot. This amendment would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to say that the constitution grants no right to an abortion.
  • The Iowa No State Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment, which is proposed in the state legislature for the 2024 ballot. This amendment would state that the Iowa Constitution does not provide a right to abortion or require funding of abortion
  • The South Dakota Right to Abortion Amendment, which is an initiative filed for the 2024 ballot. This amendment would make abortion legal in South Dakota with regulations after the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. To qualify for the 2024 ballot, the initiative petitioners must file 35,017 valid signatures by November 5, 2023, a year before the election.
  • The Florida Right to Life of Preborn Individual Initiative, which is an initiative filed for the 2024 ballot. This amendment would amend the Florida Declaration of Rights to state that that “the right to life of the preborn individual is God-given, thus unalienable and recognized accordingly”. To qualify for the 2024 ballot, the initiative petitioners must file 891,589 valid signatures by February 1, 2024.

Historically, from 1970 to November 2022, there were 53 abortion-related ballot measures. Forty-three (81%) of these had the support of organizations that described themselves as pro-life. Voters approved 11 (26%) and rejected 32 (74%) of these 43 ballot measures. The other 10 abortion-related ballot measures had the support of organizations that described themselves as pro-choice or pro-reproductive rights. Voters approved seven (70%) and rejected three (30%).

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Oklahoma will vote on marijuana legalization in March. Ohio could follow in November

By Jackie Mitchell
In Ballot measures, State
January 24, 2023 at 8:24 PM

Voters in Oklahoma will decide on State Question 820, an initiative to legalize marijuana, on March 7, 2023. Voters in Ohio could decide on an initiative to legalize marijuana in Nov. 2023.

Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana Laws, which is leading the campaign in support of State Question 820, wanted the citizen-initiated measure on the ballot in 2022. However, due to legal challenges and signature deadlines, the measure could not be placed on the ballot and was set to be voted on at a later election date. On Oct. 18, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) called a special election for State Question 820 on March 7, 2023.

State Question 820 would legalize the possession and consumption of marijuana for adults 21 years old and older. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority would be responsible for marijuana business licensing and regulations. Sales of marijuana would be taxed at 15%. People would be allowed to possess, transport, and distribute up to one ounce (28.35 grams) of marijuana, eight grams of marijuana in a concentrated form, and/or eight grams or less of concentrated marijuana in marijuana-infused products. Under State Question 820, individuals could possess up to six mature marijuana plants and up to six seedlings. The initiative would also provide a process for individuals to seek the expungement or modification of certain previous marijuana-related convictions or sentences.

Through Sept. 30, 2022, Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana Laws raised $2.74 million and spent $2.57 million. The largest contributor was the Just Trust for Action, which donated $1.06 million.

In Ohio, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted 136,729 valid signatures for a marijuana legalization initiative. As initiated statutes are indirect in Ohio, the proposal was presented to the Ohio General Assembly. Legislators have until May 3, 2023, to approve the measure. Should legislators reject or take no action on the initiative, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol would be required to collect an additional 124,046 valid signatures within 90 days, which would be around Aug. 1, 2023. A successful signature drive would result in the initiative appearing on the ballot for Nov. 7, 2023.

Through Dec. 9, 2022, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol raised $1.50 million and spent $1.42 million. The largest contributor was the Marijuana Policy Project, which provided $840,000.

As of Jan. 2023, 21 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes.

  • In 12 states and D.C., the ballot initiative process was used to legalize marijuana.
  • In two states, the legislature referred a measure to the ballot for voter approval.
  • In seven states, bills to legalize marijuana were enacted into law.

From 2011 to 2021, an average of 33 statewide ballot measures — five initiated measures and 28 referred measures — appeared on ballots in odd-numbered years.

Marijuana legalization initiatives targeting the 2024 ballot have also been filed in Wyoming, Florida, and Nebraska.

Additional reading: