by J.D. Davidson
Less than three weeks before Election Day a new poll shows Ohio voters favor constitutional amendments on enshrining abortion rights and legalizing recreational marijuana.
The Baldwin Wallace University poll of 850 registered voters, with 750 identified as likely voters, showed 58% favor Issue 1, which says every individual has a right to make and carry out their reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on contraception, fertility, treatment, continuing one’s pregnancy, miscarriage care and abortion.
The poll showed 57% favored Issue 2, which would legalize the growing, manufacturing and sale of marijuana for recreational use for those 21 and older. It would also add a 10% tax on the sale and limit the number of plants per person to 12.
The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.5% for registered voters and for likely voters 4%.
“The majorities of respondents in these demographics favoring Issue 1 and Issue 2 indicate a strong likelihood of a majority vote for both ballot issues in November,” said Tom Sutton, professor and director of the Baldwin Wallace Community Research Institute.
Issue 1 is favored by 89% of Democrats and 51% of independents but only 39% of Republicans, according to the poll. Also, it’s favored by 65% of parents. Eight percent of those surveyed were undecided.
Most demographic groups support Issue 2, including 66% of Democrats, 50% of Republicans, 59% of independents and 70% of parents.
The same poll showed state voters had a more favorable rating of former President Donald Trump than President Joe Biden by 9 percentage points, 47%-38%. Also, Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown showed a 44% favorable rating compared to 36% of Republican Sen. J.D. Vance.
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An Ohio native, J.D. Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Texas. He has served as a reporter, editor, managing editor and publisher. Davidson is a regional editor for The Center Square.
Photo “Abortion Supporters” by Becker1999. CC BY 2.0.
