Human Rights Campaign Celebrates Ohio Voters for Upholding Majority Rule

by HRC Staff •

Victory comes in advance of a November ballot initiative that would make abortion a legal right in Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) celebrates Ohio voters' rejection of Issue 1, guaranteeing that the sacred principle of ‘one person, one vote’ and majority rule are preserved in the state. Despite a hastily called off year election, Ohioans turned out in historic numbers to protect the concept of one person, one vote.

HRC endorsed the No On Issue 1 campaign, a citizen-driven, grassroots, non-partisan coalition representing millions of Ohio voters. The success of the No On Issue 1 campaign comes in advance of a November ballot initiative that would make abortion a legal right in Ohio. That ballot initiative, which HRC helped organize signature collection for, would have faced a 60% threshold if Issue 1 had passed. As a result of today’s victory, the ballot initiative threshold will remain at 50%.

Every Ohioan deserves to have their voices heard and their votes counted. Today’s victory was essential to ensuring that LGBTQ+ rights, abortion rights, and, more broadly, Ohioans’ rights and values are reflected in how their state is governed. Voters rejected politicians’ lies and their attempt to attack LGBTQ+ youth for political gain. Let this be a message to others who try that same playbook. Thank you to the organizers of the No On Issue 1 campaign and the voters who showed up to keep the power in the hands of Ohio’s people.”

Kelley Robinson, Human Rights Campaign President

In the weeks leading up until the election, extremist groups pushed a dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ misinformation campaign and funneled millions of dollars into ads attacking trans youth. The majority of the ads were designed to scare parents, advancing grotesque and craven narratives that out-of-state special interests were taking away parental rights.

HRC’s support of the No On Issue 1 campaign was a continuation of our dedication to protecting democracy. HRC activated its grassroots army of supporters and volunteers in Ohio and mobilized Equality Voters in opposition to Issue 1 through text banking, phone banking, and door knocking. Equality Voters — which surpass 2 million in Ohio and more than 62 million nationwide — are a voting bloc of demographically and geographically diverse Americans for whom LGBTQ+ equality is a top election issue, and who represented 39 percent of the 2022 electorate.

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