The short answer is: it depends on which "Issue 1" you’re talking about. Honestly, Ohio has been obsessed with this specific label for a few years now.
If you are looking for the results of the November 2024 redistricting amendment, the answer is no. Issue 1 failed. It was a massive showdown over gerrymandering that ended with 53.7% of voters saying "no" and 46.3% saying "yes."
But if you’re thinking back to November 2023, that was the one that passed. That version of Issue 1 enshrined abortion rights and reproductive freedom into the Ohio Constitution. It’s kinda confusing because the state keeps using the same number for totally different, high-stakes fights.
Let’s break down the 2024 failure and why it turned into such a mess at the finish line.
Why Did Issue 1 Pass in 2023 but Fail in 2024?
The 2024 version of Issue 1 was supposed to take the power to draw political maps away from politicians and give it to a 15-member citizen commission. The group behind it, Citizens Not Politicians, argued that the current system is rigged. They weren't just making it up, either. The Ohio Supreme Court had already struck down several sets of maps as unconstitutional gerrymanders in recent years.
So, why did it lose?
It basically came down to the words on the ballot. If you walked into the booth in November 2024, the summary you read didn't say "end gerrymandering." Instead, because of how the Republican-controlled Ballot Board wrote it, the text claimed the amendment would "require" gerrymandering.
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Maureen O’Connor, the retired Republican Chief Justice who championed the measure, called the language "deceptive." But the Ohio Supreme Court let it stand in a 4-3 vote. Many voters who actually wanted to end gerrymandering saw the word "require" and panicked, hitting "no" by mistake. It was a tactical masterstroke by opponents and a nightmare for proponents.
The 2023 Victory for Abortion Rights
Flip the calendar back a year. In November 2023, Issue 1 passed with about 57% of the vote. This was the "Right to Reproductive Freedom" amendment.
It was a huge deal. It protected:
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- Access to contraception
- Fertility treatments (like IVF)
- Miscarriage care
- The right to an abortion up until fetal viability
Before that passed, there was also a "sneaky" Issue 1 in August 2023. That one was a proposal to raise the threshold for passing future amendments from a simple majority (50% + 1) to a 60% supermajority. Voters smelled a rat—they knew it was an attempt to make the November abortion vote harder to pass—and they killed it.
What Happens Now That the 2024 Version Failed?
Since the 2024 redistricting measure failed, the status quo stays exactly where it is. The Ohio Redistricting Commission—which consists of seven elected officials (currently a GOP majority)—will remain in charge of drawing the maps for the 2026 congressional elections and beyond.
Governor Mike DeWine, who campaigned hard against Issue 1, has admitted the current system is flawed. He’s promised to look at an "Iowa-style" system where nonpartisan staff draw maps that the legislature then approves. Whether that actually happens is anyone's guess.
Key Takeaways for Ohio Voters
- Read the full text early: You can’t trust the summary you see in the voting booth. It’s often written by political rivals.
- Redistricting is stuck: The 2024 failure means the same politicians who have been drawing the maps will keep drawing them for the foreseeable future.
- Abortion is still protected: The 2023 win is solid in the state constitution, though legal skirmishes over specific restrictions (like waiting periods) are still winding through the courts.
If you’re trying to keep track of your own district, you should check the current maps on the Ohio Secretary of State website. They aren't changing anytime soon because of this vote. You’ve basically got to stay tuned for 2026 to see if the legislature actually follows through on any "reform" promises or if we’re headed for another ballot battle.