Ohio’s general election ended on Nov. 7 and ushered in a great deal of change. Two new constitutional amendments were introduced, Issue One and Issue Two, as well as multiple school levies and bonds. The statewide election results on the ballots were revealed on Nov. 7. 

One of these levies was about the Columbus Metropolitan Library system and it was approved. Additionally, there were City Council and Mayoral positions across the city of Columbus on the ballot as well. 

Issue One, officially titled, “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety,” entailed the rights to abortion access to citizens. It lets citizens “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,”(Ballotpedia). The state can no longer restrict abortion if it’s to protect the patient’s life and well-being.

Issue Two is about the sale and use of recreational marijuana. The passing of this issue allows anyone over the age of 21 to grow, buy, and possess the drug. “A 10% tax on purchases will go towards administrative costs, additional treatment, municipalities with dispensaries, and social equity and jobs programs.” (10 WBNS). 

Voter turnout for this ballot was higher than previous ones, 3.9 million Ohioians voted in this election, 0.9 million more than in the previous general election on Aug. 8. Both Issue One and Issue Two passed.

In response to the high voter turnout, Westerville North High School AP Government teacher James Brady said, “I mean, we literally as the voters, we hand the keys to the elected representatives to carry out our wishes in our hope that they will. So I can’t stress that enough, the better the turnout, the better it is for the country, and for the state of Ohio,” said Brady.