Campaigns supporting or opposing Ohio Issue 1 have raised a combined $32.25 million. More than 80% of contributions for and against Issue 1 came from out-of-state donors. Issue 1, which is on a special election ballot for Aug. 8, 2023, would make three changes to the ballot measure process in Ohio, including increasing the voter approval threshold for new constitutional amendments to 60%, expanding the signature distribution requirement for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments, and eliminating the signature cure period for initiated amendments.
Protect Our Constitution is leading the campaign in support of Issue 1. Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-12) and Ohio House Majority Whip James Hoops (R-81) are co-chairs of Protect Our Constitution. Protect Our Kids Ohio registered to support Issue 1, as did Protect Women Ohio, which is also leading the opposition campaign to a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment to establish a state constitutional right to abortion, contraception, and other reproductive matters. Voters will decide on the abortion-related initiative in November. Together, these PACs received $15.55 million. However, $10.01 million, or 64% of the support’s total funds, was for Protect Women Ohio, which is spending funds on two ballot measures. The average contribution to the three PACs was $17,438, and the median contribution was $100. About 84.41% of the contributions came from individuals or entities with out-of-state addresses.
Protect Women Ohio is supporting Ohio Issue 1, in addition to opposing the abortion-related initiative. Issue 1 would require a 60% vote, rather than the current simple majority (50% plus one) vote, on future constitutional amendments, including those on the ballot in Nov. 2023. On July 25, the abortion-related initiative, which is a constitutional amendment, qualified for the ballot. Under Issue 1, a 60% vote would be required on the abortion-related initiative.
