From Canton to Vinton County: What Ohio voters think about Issue 1

Thomas Granchie was hoping for a third option when he voted early in Ohio's August special election on Issue 1.

"I voted no, but if I could have voted 'hell no' I would have done that," said Granchie, a Democrat and retired police officer from Mahoning County. "Majority rules. Period."

Voters will decide in the Aug. 8 election whether to approve Issue 1, which would make it harder to change the state constitution. If passed, the measure would require proposed amendments to pass with 60% of the vote − instead of a simple majority − and change the signature-gathering process for citizen amendments.

Ohio Issue 1: What you need to know about the Aug. 8 special election

The election is happening at a time when most Ohioans aren't accustomed to voting. Some are undecided, instead using their time to focus on 4-H or other summer activities. Others around the state hadn't even heard about the election when approached by reporters.

A surge in early voting has groups on both sides hopeful that turnout will be better than expected for the hastily-arranged election. But where people stand on Issue 1 is an entirely different question: A USA TODAY Network/Suffolk University poll found a majority of voters oppose it, while an Ohio Northern University survey suggested it's neck-and-neck.

USA TODAY Network Ohio visited early voting locations, fairs, libraries and coffee shops across the state to see what voters had to say.

Abortion just one piece of the puzzle

Both supporters and opponents said the November ballot question on abortion rights informed their decision on Issue 1. Retired Hamilton firefighter Mike Lewis asked his sister, who's a Democrat, to put aside her stances on abortion and join him in voting for Issue One.

The abortion amendment was also a key factor for Hannah Couch, of Akron − albeit in a very different way.

"People don’t go skipping and jumping to the abortion clinic," Couch said. "They’re going traumatized and crying. It’s when desperate times call for desperate measures. It should be a right."

At the same time, several Ohioans said abortion is just one piece of the puzzle. Some opponents expressed concern that Issue 1, if passed, would devalue their vote on future amendments. Gary Gale of Stark County said requiring petitioners to get signatures from all 88 counties could allow one small county to "hold the rest of the state hostage."

Sarah Norman, a Hudson resident and Issue 1 backer, wants all policy out of the constitution, which she said should be reserved for fundamental rights such as freedom of religion.

"I was very angry when they tried to legalize marijuana within a constitutional amendment; that’s not where it belongs," Norman said after voting early in Summit County. "I was angry that we legalized casinos in a constitutional amendment; that’s not where it belongs. The Legislature must act on these things so people can continue to have a voice in their government."

Young voters energized against Issue 1

Antonio Sanders isn't new to politics. The 19-year-old Cincinnati resident advocates for Democratic policies through his role as a Cincinnati ward chair. And he's already voted no on Issue 1.

“It’s going to shred our democracy into pieces,” Sanders said. “It’s a last-ditch effort by Republicans to stay in power.”

But Sanders isn't the only young Ohioan speaking out against the ballot issue. Aug. 8 will be the first trip to the polls for Hanna Holsinger, 18, of Mansfield, and she said she wouldn't miss it for anything. The ramifications of the impending decision have been stressful for the new voter who cares deeply about reproductive rights.

You asked, we answered: What Ohioans need to know about the August election on Issue 1

“If our government in Ohio is trying to make it where their opinion is the only one, then where does that leave us?” Holsinger asked. “Where does it leave the rest of the people who don't agree? Or those who do agree, why don't we get a say?”

Sasha Krylov, a 23-year-old Dayton resident, voted early at the Montgomery County Board of Elections, calling the proposed changes "inhumane." And Krylov had a stark message for anyone thinking about sitting this one out.

“Not voting is close to siding with them because you’re not opposing when they try to bulldoze over our way of life," Krylov said.

A snapshot of Ohio's smallest county

Critics often invoke Vinton County when criticizing the 88-county requirement, arguing it would be difficult for groups to collect signatures in rural areas. The southeast Ohio county is reliably Republican, with a population of just under 13,000 people. It is the least populated county in the state.

"Vote yes" signs appeared in lawns throughout McArthur, the county seat, and outside a Republican Party booth at the Vinton County Jr. Fair. Some locals are on board with Issue 1, while others said they need to learn more or didn't want to talk politics. Elizabeth Ratcliff, a self-described constitutional conservative, said she plans to vote but has been too busy with her farm to pay attention so far.

Watch: Ohio elected officials make the case for and against Issue 1

"I’ve heard both ways," Ratcliff said. "My family is pretty well split down the middle ... one side is extremely far right, the other side is extremely far left. I don’t like to get in the middle."

Gina Huntley, who lives in Swan Township, said her family received mailers from groups on both sides, but accused Issue 1 opponents of trying to trick her. She spoke with family and local party officials before determining that she wants to vote yes, driven in part by concerns over the abortion amendment.

“We’re just kind of set in our ways, so I figure I’m just going to vote yes and hope that’s the right way to go," Huntley said.

'It's not being discussed enough'

With the election fast approaching, some Ohioans remained unsure what to think about Issue 1 − or hadn't thought about it at all. Suburban Columbus residents in Delaware County told a reporter they didn't know enough about the issue to speak to it. One woman got the two sides mixed up.

Fred, of Powell, who declined to provide his last name, said he was confused by the whole thing.

But those who settled on their decision felt strongly about it. Supporter William Cashwell of Westerville near Columbus said laws should be "legislated, not constituted." Tim Nagel, who voted early in Stark County, said he hopes the special election will lead to a super majority voting system, something he feels is better for Ohio.

"If it is 50-50, it's tight," Nagel said. "To come down to one person's vote, I don't think that's right."

Opponents of Issue 1 were similarly resolved. Anna Russell, a 49-year-old from Mount Airy, accused backers of trying to change the rules of the game. Barbara Earth, of Athens, contends they're misleading voters into thinking Issue 1 is democratic − and she doesn't think it is.

Columbus resident Casey Smith was shocked when she learned about the August election and its implications for Ohio.

“That’s actually a very serious issue that’s going to have major consequences," Smith said, "and it’s not being discussed enough."

The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

Certified Ballot Language for Issue 1 by Anthony Shoemaker on Scribd

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Issue 1: What voters are saying ahead of the August election