Voters pass State Issue 2: What this means for voting rights in Ohio

State Issue 2 on Ohio’s midterm election ballot allowed voters to decide on if non-citizens can vote in local elections.

The issue passed, requiring that only a U.S. citizen, who is at least 18 years of age and who has been a legal resident and registered voter for at least 30 days, can vote at any state or local election. It also reads that local governments are prohibited “from allowing a person to vote in local elections if they are not legally qualified to vote in state elections.”

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The push for this ballot issue started because of something in the Miami Valley. In 2019, the Village of Yellow Springs voted to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose stopped that initiative from going into effect.

Opponents who voted “no” say non-citizens live in their community, pay taxes and have children in their school system and should be able to vote on local issues.

Supporters who voted “yes” say it’s common sense that only U.S. citizens can vote and that any workarounds that could mean otherwise should be changed.

After passing, the amendment goes into effect immediately.

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