Issue 1: Everything you need to know about Ohio Issue 1 and the August special election
Voters will decide in an Aug. 8 special election whether they support the measure, which would:
Require 60% of voters to pass a new constitutional amendment, instead of a simple majority of 50% plus one.
Require citizens who want to place an amendment on the ballot to collect signatures from at least 5% of voters from the last gubernatorial election in all 88 counties, instead of the current 44.
Eliminate a 10-day cure period that allows citizens to replace any signatures deemed faulty by the secretary of state's office.
Q&A: What Ohioans need to know about the August election on Issue 1
The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau compiled answers to reader questions and other information voters should know about the issue.
Ohio Catholic bishops neutral on Issue 1. Columbus Bishop Fernandes' stance is less clear
Some Catholic clergy in the Columbus diocese are telling their parishioners that Bishop Earl Fernandes is encouraging a "yes" vote on Ohio Issue 1, even though officially, the Catholic Bishops of Ohio have stated that they do not have a position on the ballot measure "as it does not have moral content."
From Columbus to Vinton County: What Ohio voters think about Issue 1
Advocates and elected officials have dominated the conversation on Issue 1. Where do Ohioans stand?
Early voting on Issue 1 surges in Ohio, fueled by campaign pushes on both sides
The first few weeks of early voting already surpassed many officials' expectations for voter turnout. While many were concerned that the initial surge in early in-person votes would fizzle out, data from the Secretary of State's office shows that the number of early voters per day has increased.
Who's funding the Ohio Issue 1 campaigns? Donors from Illinois, D.C. and California
The campaigns for and against Issue 1 are relying heavily on donors from California to Washington, D.C. as they blast the influence of special interests on Ohio politics.
What Ohio voters need to know about parental rights and the Issue 1 debate
You've probably seen the ads. A voice on your television claims that Issue 1 is necessary to protect parental rights in Ohio and contends opponents want to let children get transgender medical care without their parents' consent.
So, what exactly does Issue 1 have to do with parental rights? Here's what voters need to know.
Abortion, democracy, special interests: How groups are selling their pitch on Ohio Issue 1
The past month in Ohio felt more like October than July as groups fanned out across the state, either to curry favor for Issue 1 or work against it. Both sides face the same, daunting task: Educating Ohioans about a complicated issue during the summer, when they aren't accustomed to voting.
Watch Issue 1 forum: Ohio elected officials make the case for and against Issue 1
Two Ohio elected officials made their cases for and against Issue 1 during a forum put on by The Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon-Journal and Spectrum News this week.
Spectrum News anchor Mike Kallmeyer moderated the half-hour conversation with Rep. Jim Hoops, R-Napoleon, who supports Issue 1, and House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, a staunch critic of the measure.
Over 150,000 Ohioans cast ballots in first week of early voting for August election
Over 150,000 Ohioans have already voted early for the upcoming August election, outpacing past elections that had key races for governor and U.S. Senate on the ballot.
According to data from Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office, 155,183 people returned absentee ballots or voted early in-person through the seventh day of early voting.
Issue 1 poll: Most Ohio voters oppose plan to make it harder to amend constitution
Nearly 60% of Ohio voters oppose an August ballot measure that would make it harder to change the constitution, according to a new poll.
A USA TODAY Network/Suffolk University poll released Thursday found 57% of likely voters are against Issue 1, including some Republicans and opponents of abortion. Twenty-six percent back the issue, while 17% are undecided with just weeks to go before the Aug. 8 election.
What supporters, opponents are saying about Issue 1 on Ohio's August ballot
The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau invited a supporter and opponent to discuss Issue 1 on the Ohio Politics Explained podcast: Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, and Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio. Here are some highlights from the interviews.
How Ohio Issue 1 could make it harder to put amendments on the ballot
Ohioans who want to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot must first get buy-in from their fellow voters.
That means citizen groups need to visit at least 44 counties across Ohio to collect signatures for their petitions. As he spoke last year about defending the state constitution, Secretary of State Frank LaRose said raising that signature threshold is one way to make it harder to change Ohio's founding document.
Want to vote in Ohio's August special election? Here are key dates to know
Statewide elections aren't often held in August, and turnout is typically low because Ohioans are preoccupied with summer activities. The last time Ohio voters considered a proposed constitutional amendment in August was 1926, according to the secretary of state's office.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Issue 1: August ballot issue to change constitutional amendment
