On Aug. 8, Ohio voters will decide if the vote threshold to change the state constitution should be raised from a simple majority to 60%. Changing the threshold would make it harder for Ohio residents to change the constitution, which includes issues like adding abortion rights to the constitution and raising the minimum wage.
According to the ACLU of Ohio, the state has held the simple majority threshold for 110 years.
Issue 1 will be the only item on the ballot for the one-day voting affair. This comes after a similarly timed primary election in August of 2022 that had an 8.4% voter turnout.
Deputy Director of Butler County Board of Elections Eric Corbin said he predicts a similar outcome this year even without predictive data.
“We’re expecting roughly that amount [8.4%],” Corbin said. “But I’ve certainly heard some higher estimates.”
According to Corbin, the election will not cost any more than a regular election, but it might prove harder to get poll workers compared to a November election.
“We’re having a little bit of trouble finding poll workers,” Corbin said. “We have people on vacation during that time, but we do have enough right now.”
Even though in-person voting isn’t until August, absentee voting starts Tuesday, July 11. According to Corbin, 850 mail ballots have been requested.
With the election approaching, the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Oxford has been spreading information about the election in Oxford and the surrounding area. Kathie Brinkman, the LWV of Oxford communications director, said informing people there is an election is the biggest key to raising voter turnout.
“We’re doing a tremendous amount of communication to try to acquaint people with the fact that there is an election and that there’s an important issue on the ballot,” Brinkman said.
Websites like VoteNoInAugust.org and VoteYesOhio.com are doing the same but on different platforms. Both organizations allow you to see what groups endorse their side while providing information on the issue and a place to donate.
No matter the medium, Brinkman said understanding the importance of the Aug. 8 election is the key to making an informed decision.
“If people understand how important the issue is and what happens if the issue passes, then they’re incentivized to vote,” Brinkman said.
