Election Day: Abortion issue, pot legalization debate drive Akron-area voters to polls

Two big issues were on Ohio’s Election Day ballot this year: Issue 1 and Issue 2.

Issue 1, the enshrinement of abortion rights in the state constitution, and Issue 2, the legalization of recreational marijuana, drove voters with a diversity of opinions out to their polling places.

Some East Akron voters believed issues 1 and 2 were important in this election because they highlight the need to protect individual choice and freedoms.

Douglas Williams, 59 of Akron, said he voted yes on Issue 1 because he believes women should be entitled to medical treatment.

"I don't think the government should go in and take their rights to an abortion if a girl gets raped at 10 years old and a judge orders her to have the baby," he said. "That's not right for her to go out of the state to have an abortion."

Williams is referring to a 2022 case in which a 10-year-old Columbus girl was raped and impregnated by an attacker. She had to travel to Indiana to get an abortion because the assault occurred after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and before a judge temporarily halted Ohio's so-called "heartbeat" law. The events made national headlines, and the attacker was sentenced to life in prison in July.

"People should have the freedom to do whatever they want with their body," the 75-year-old said. "I voted yes on Issue 1 so that women can enjoy this freedom."

Regarding Issue 2, Williams said the money that legalized marijuana would bring into the state could help fund social services.

Gail Artis, also 75 of Akron, voted yes on both issues, saying it's a woman's choice to do whatever she wants to do with her body.

"I'm a retired nurse who remembers what it was like before Roe v. Wade, and I saw some horrible things that people shouldn't have done to their bodies, and I just don't want to go back to before that time," Artist said. "We need to protect women's rights to safely terminate the pregnancy if they choose to."

Cuyahoga Falls voters offer mixed views on issues 1 and 2

Cuyahoga Falls natives Stephanie Chew and Vickie McVan said they both voted for Issue 1, noting their roles as mothers when it comes to supporting abortion rights.

"I'm a woman. I have a daughter I don't want to send out of state...and have people going to other states for medical care," Chew said.

"It's imperative to have this right to protect our bodies," McVan added.

Air Force veteran Jeff Slapak, 60, disagreed with the two women. He voted no on Issue 1, citing his anti-abortion stance.

"I'm a Christian. I believe in pro life. I believe it's a woman's choice, but you can't kill babies, and that's what it comes down to [for me]," he said.

Slapak voted yes on Issue 2, saying he has a medical marijuana license and doesn't see any harm in recreational marijuana.

Chew and McVan also supported Issue 2, with Chew noting the potential money the state will earn through the legalization of recreational marijuana.

"We don't need people going to other states to get it," Chew said. "If it's legal to smoke cigarettes and legal to drink alcohol, recreational marijuana should be legal as well."

High turnout in Norton

Aaron Burnette, 47, sitting in his truck outside the Norton Community Center, said this was the highest election turnout he's seen in his lifetime of residing in Norton.

He voted no on issues 1 and 2.

Burnette didn't elaborate on why he voted no on Issue 1 but said voting no on Issue 2 was "just a personal preference."

"Having children, I wanted to take a strong stance on the drug issue," he said.

Kasey Bolyard, 33, also voted no on both issues. Her no vote on Issue 1 was motivated by her religious, pro-life stance and her special-needs son, she said.

Bolyard voted Issue 2 down because she wasn't pleased with the particulars of how the law would be executed should it pass, specifically the taxation and regulation. But she said does support the decriminalization of marijuana.

"So I'm rethinking the issue," Bolyard said, "coming at it from a different angle, and I would support it if some of the things were changed."

Linda Carter, 75, said she voted no on issues 1 and 2 because her Bible study group suggested it and because of her anti-abortion stance.

In Green, candidates mingle with voters

A steady stream of voters filtered in and out of the Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Green during the lunch hour.

In the parking lot outside, several Green candidates were set up. Among them were mayoral candidate Rocco Yeargin and council-at-large candidate Erin Yoder. They each were optimistic about their chances of victory in their respective races.

Rick Taylor said that he voted no on Issue 1 because he felt it "went too far." When asked to elaborate, he said that too much was added into the proposed amendment, but he didn't offer specifics.

Taylor voted no on Issue 2 because he personally doesn't like marijuana, though he mentioned he has friends who do.

Craig Greenlee voted yes on both issues 1 and 2. He said he believes women should make their own decisions. Greenlee also said he's seen recreational marijuana legalized in other states with no negative consequences.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com, or on X @athompsonABJ.Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or (330) 541-9413

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Issues 1 and 2 are on voters' minds as they head to Akron-area polls