If you were watching the returns on election night, the Ohio Issue 1 2024 results probably felt like a bit of a gut punch or a massive relief, depending on which side of the yard sign war you were on. Honestly, the numbers weren't even that close in the end. Despite tens of millions of dollars poured into "Yes" commercials, the amendment went down.
It lost. 53.7% of Ohioans voted "No," while 46.3% voted "Yes."
That’s a gap of about 400,000 votes. In a state where everyone seems to agree that the current way we draw district lines is, well, messy, you’d think a "ban" on gerrymandering would be a slam dunk. But politics in Ohio is rarely that simple. You’ve got to look at the wording, the money, and the sheer confusion that happened inside those little voting booths to understand why a measure backed by $40 million plus couldn't cross the finish line.
The Brutal Reality of the Ohio Issue 1 2024 Results
Basically, the amendment wanted to fire the politicians.
Currently, a group of seven elected officials—mostly Republicans right now—draw the maps. Issue 1 wanted to swap them out for a 15-member "Citizens Redistricting Commission." No politicians allowed. No lobbyists. Just five Republicans, five Democrats, and five independents picked by retired judges.
So, what happened?
When the Ohio Issue 1 2024 results started trickling in after the polls closed at 7:30 PM, it became clear that the "No" side had successfully branded the amendment as a "mandate to gerrymander." It sounds like a paradox, right? The "Yes" side said it would end gerrymandering, but the ballot language—written by the politicians the amendment was trying to replace—literally told voters it would require gerrymandering.
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Why the Language Mattered
The Ohio Ballot Board, led by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, didn't hold back. They crafted a summary that was nearly 900 words long. Most people don't read 900 words of fine print before they click "submit" on a software update, let alone in a crowded voting line.
- The title on the ballot said the commission would be "unelected" and "unaccountable."
- It claimed the amendment would "repeal constitutional protections."
- It used the word "gerrymander" to describe the new process.
The "Yes" campaign, Citizens Not Politicians, sued to get this changed. They called it "deceptive" and "deadly." The Ohio Supreme Court (which has a 4-3 Republican majority) looked at it and basically said, "Eh, it's mostly fine." They ordered a few tiny tweaks, but the scary language stayed. When voters saw the word "gerrymander" associated with a "Yes" vote, a lot of them just noped out.
Money Didn't Buy a Win This Time
We usually think the side with the biggest mountain of cash wins. Not here.
The "Yes" campaign raised roughly $43 million. They had the ACLU, labor unions like the AFL-CIO, and even some big-name Republicans like former Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor in their corner. They blanketed the airwaves. You couldn't watch a football game without seeing an ad about "taking power back."
On the flip side, the "No" campaign (Ohio Works) raised about $7.5 million. That is a massive disparity. Usually, a 6-to-1 spending advantage is a death sentence for the opposition. But the "No" side had something more powerful than TV ads: the bully pulpit. Governor Mike DeWine and other top GOP leaders hammered the message that this was an "out-of-state dark money" power grab.
They argued that the proportionality requirement—the part of the amendment that said maps should reflect how Ohioans actually vote—was actually a secret way to rig the system for Democrats.
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A Red Wave and Shifting Demographics
You also can't look at the Ohio Issue 1 2024 results in a vacuum. November 5 was a big night for Republicans in Ohio across the board. Donald Trump carried the state by double digits. Bernie Moreno unseated Sherrod Brown for the U.S. Senate.
Voters were already in a "red" mood.
When the most popular Republicans in the state are telling you that Issue 1 is a "liberal trick," and the ballot language in front of your face seems to confirm it, the "No" vote becomes the default for a huge chunk of the electorate.
It’s worth noting where the "Yes" votes actually came from. It wasn't a total washout.
- Franklin County (Columbus) went heavily for it.
- Cuyahoga (Cleveland) and Hamilton (Cincinnati) were "Yes" strongholds.
- But the "Red Wall" of rural and suburban Ohio held firm.
In places like Warren, Butler, and Clermont counties, the "No" votes were overwhelming. People there generally trust their local reps more than they trust a "commission" of 15 people they've never heard of.
What Actually Happens Now?
Since Issue 1 failed, we are stuck with the status quo.
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The Ohio Redistricting Commission—those seven politicians—will stay in charge. The maps they drew, which the Ohio Supreme Court previously rejected seven times before the court's makeup shifted, are likely what we’re living with for the foreseeable future.
There's already talk about "what's next." Governor DeWine has hinted that he might support a different kind of redistricting reform, maybe something modeled after Iowa. But don't hold your breath. For now, the "politician-run" system is the law of the land.
Common Misconceptions About the Results
A lot of people think the Ohio Issue 1 2024 results mean Ohioans love gerrymandering. That’s probably not true. Polling shows most people hate it. What the results actually show is that Ohioans are deeply skeptical of complex constitutional changes they don't fully understand.
If you give a voter a choice between a "broken" system they know and a "new" system that the ballot says might be "unaccountable," they’ll pick the devil they know almost every time.
Actionable Steps for the Future
If you’re frustrated by the outcome or just want to stay informed, here is what you can actually do:
- Read the Actual Text: Don't just rely on the ballot summary. Look up the full 26-page amendment that was proposed. It helps you see where the "summary" was fair and where it was... creative.
- Watch the 2026 Cycle: Redistricting will be a massive talking point in the next gubernatorial race. Candidates will have to answer for the current maps.
- Engage Locally: Gerrymandering affects things like your school board and city council boundaries, too. Those are often decided with much less fanfare but impact your daily life just as much.
- Check Your Registration: With the 2024 election over, many states (including Ohio) perform "voter roll maintenance." Make sure you haven't been purged before the next local primary.
The Ohio Issue 1 2024 results weren't just a win or a loss; they were a masterclass in how much the framing of an issue matters more than the merits of the issue itself. Whether you think the voters were "tricked" or "protected" depends on your zip code and your party line, but one thing is certain: the fight over Ohio's maps is nowhere near finished.
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