OHIO — With less than three weeks to go until the Ohio general election, a Baldwin Wallace University poll shows residents have strong support for the statewide issues on the ballot — Issue 1, which would enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution, and Issue 2, which would legalize recreational marijuana. 

What You Need To Know

  • The poll was conducted between Oct. 9 and Oct. 11, and it surveyed 850 self-identified registered voters — 750 which identified as likely voters — at random

  • The margin of error for the results was +3.5% for responses from registered voters and +4% for responses from likely voters

  • While the poll surveyed respondents on their thoughts for Issue 1 and Issue 2, it also asked them about abortion, gun control, Ohio's Senate candidates and presidents
Your Voter Guide on the Spectrum News App

In addition, Baldwin Wallace University Ohio Pulse Poll surveyed Ohioans on their opinions regarding gun control, the 2024 statewide primary candidates, President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and Ohio’s two U.S. senators. 

The poll was conducted between Oct. 9 and Oct. 11, and it surveyed 850 self-identified registered voters — 750 which identified as likely voters — at random. Baldwin Wallace said respondents were weighted to U.S. Census targets for education, gender, age, race, homeownership and recalled 2020 vote. The margin of error for the results was +3.5% for responses from registered voters and +4% for responses from likely voters. 

Here are the takeaways from the poll.

Issue 1: Reproductive rights

Poll results show 58% of likely voters support the passage of Issue 1. While it enshrines abortion in the state constitution, it will also protect the right to access contraception, fertility treatment and more. 

Breakdown of respondents who favor Issue 1:

  • 89% of Democrats
  • 39% of Republicans
  • 51% of Independents
  • 65% of parents
  • 54% of gun owners
  • 37% of evangelicals 

Of those parties, 7% of Democrats, 52% of Republicans and 36% of Independents said they would vote "no" on Issue 1. 

Just 8% of respondents were undecided. 

Issue 2: Legalizing recreational marijuana

The poll shows 57% of respondents plan to vote “yes” for Issue 2. Just 7% of respondents were undecided. 

Breakdown of respondents who favor Issue 2:

  • 66% of Democrats
  • 50% of Republicans
  • 59% of Independents
  • 70% of parents
  • 71% of those ages 18 to 49
  • 47% of evangelicals
  • 47% of those ages 50 and older

Of those parties, 24% of Democrats, 43% of Republicans and 36% of Independents said they would vote "no" on Issue 2. 

The poll asked respondents on their thoughts regarding Biden and Trump. Results showed voters saw Trump more favorably than Biden. Around 38% said they see Biden as “very favorable/somewhat favorable” compared to the 47% who have the same view of Trump. 

As for Senate candidates, Sen. Sherrod Brown had a 44% favorability rating, while Sen. J.D. Vance had 36% favorability. 

Results show many voters aren’t as familiar with other Republican candidates running against Brown, with 61% picking the “not familiar” option for Bernie Moreno, 56% for Matt Dolan and 43% for Frank LaRose. 

 

Voter turnout

For the most part, voter participation for the Nov. 7 election looks strong, poll results show. 

  • 67% said they are “certain to vote”
  • 18% said they would “probably vote”
  • 18% said they are casting a ballot by mail
  • 26% plan to vote early in person
  • A little over half said they will vote on Election Day

Baldwin Wallace’s 2023 Pulse Poll includes questions regarding abortion access and gun control that had also been asked in October 2022. 

As for full access to abortion, 27% in 2022 favored that option, compared to 24% in 2023. Both polls had 30% of respondents supporting abortion access with limits. As for allowing abortions with exceptions of rape or to save a life, 26% favored that option in 2022 compared to the 30% in 2023. 

In both polls, 61% favored a state constitutional amendment to allow access to abortion.

As for gun control, more than three-quarters of respondents in both 2022 and 2023 supported raising the minimum age to buy an AR-15 semi-automatic weapon from 18 to 21. 

Support for other measures held up over the past year, including:

  • Background checks for those ages 18 to 21 years old (85% support in 2022 and 83% in 2023)
  • Red flag laws, which allow law enforcement to temporarily remove guns from those considered at risk (75% in 2022 and 72% in 2023)
  • Limits on gun magazine capacity (62% in 2022 and 60% in 2023)

Support for teachers being allowed to carry guns in schools gained support over the past year, going from 53% in 2022 to 57% in 2023. It’s now legal in Ohio for teachers to do so. 

Support for a ban on AR-15 semi-automatic weapons declined from 56% in 2022 to 52% in 2023. 

Support for teachers being allowed to carry guns in schools, which is now legal in Ohio, rose from 53% in 2022 to 57% in 2023, while a ban on AR-15 semi-automatic weapons declined from 56% in 2022 to 52% in 2023.   

Related Stories