Ohio voters to decide abortion rights, recreational marijuana Tuesday

With early in-person voting concluded, Ohioans head to the polls Tuesday to decide on constitutional amendments on reproductive rights and marijuana legalization.

Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

Early in-person voting ended Sunday, and the number of voters who went to the polls early outpaced the number for the August special election, when voters turned away an amendment to make it more difficult to pass amendments.

As of Saturday night, more than 800,000 early votes were cast. Total numbers, including Sunday, were not immediately available. A little more than 750,000 early votes were cast in August.

The ballot contains two statewide issues, along with several local issues, tax levies and other questions.

Issue 1 would enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution and would require parental consent for an abortion for those under 18 years old, unless the child is emancipated or a judge grants an abortion.

According to Ballotpedia, Issue 1 would:

• Establish a state constitutional right to "make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to" decisions about abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care, and continuing pregnancy.

• Allow the state to restrict abortion after fetal viability, except when “necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.”

Issue 2 would legalize and tax recreational marijuana. According to Ballotpedia, Issue 2 would:

• Allow the sale and purchase of marijuana, which a new Division of Cannabis Control would regulate.

• Allow adults who are at least 21 years old to use and possess marijuana, including up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana.

• Enact a 10% tax on marijuana sales.

As previously reported by The Center Square, a recent Baldwin Wallace University poll shows Ohio voters favor both constitutional amendments.

The 850 registered voters, with 750 identified as likely voters, showed 58% favor Issue 1, and 57% favor Issue 2.