Ohio Voters Resoundingly Defeat Issue 1 in a Win for Unions and Working People

In the summer of 2023, RWDSU members in Ohio got involved in the “Vote No on Issue 1” campaign, engaging with fellow Ohioans to come out and vote NO on Issue 1 on Tuesday, August 8. In the latest attempt by Republican legislators to silence the vote of the people, this ballot referendum sought to amend the century old practice of amending the state constitution with a simple majority vote. Shortly after the Legislature passed legislation this past session prohibiting future special elections to be held in the dead of August, Secretary of State Frank LaRose was successful in convincing them to schedule this vote. If Issue 1 had passed, future amendments to the Ohio state constitution would instead have needed the approval of 60% of the voters, a much higher threshold. Many former elected officials spoke out against this proposed change, from former Republican Governor John Kasich to former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Maureen O’Connor, a Republican who retired in December. RWDSU members worked with the “Vote No on Issue 1” Coalition, as well as the Ohio AFL-CIO, to make sure their voices were heard - and when the polls closed on Tuesday, August 8 and the votes were tallied, Issue 1 was resoundingly defeated!