Election 2009's ballot initiatives
Though it was an off-year election, Ohioans debated some tough issues on last Tuesday's ballot.
Sarah Wiley
Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: News
In this month's elections, Ohio had three state-wide ballot initiatives, each of which ultimately passed. They ranged in topic from veterans benefits to casino-operating rights.
Issue 1: According to the Ohio Secretary of State's Web site, Issue 1 was an initiative intended to help veterans of the Persian Gulf War, Iraq War and Afghanistan War.
It contained four parts, the first authorizing the state of Ohio to "issue up to two hundred million dollars of bonds to provide compensation" to the veterans.
The second component allowed the state to give the compensation to any Ohio resident who served in any of the wars at any time, and the third allowed for select survivors to reap the same benefits as would be bestowed upon the families of soldiers who died, were designated missing or were held captive.
The final part allowed Ohio to do so from the time of ratification until Dec. 31, 2013.
According to the state department's unofficial results, this issue passed with a huge majority of 72.15 percent, or a 44-point margin of victory.
Issue 2: This issue was more closely contested, and required that Ohio government make standards for the treatment of animals in agriculture and that these rules be the same across the board.
What at first glance appears to be an animal rights initiative was in fact opposed by animal welfare organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, while it was sponsored by agribusiness.
It was seen by proponents as a way to protect family farms, and by opponents as a way of avoiding harsher regulations.
This proposal also passed with 63.66 percent of the vote.
Issue 3: The controversial Issue 3 was a casino initiative that Ohio has seen multiple times in the past few years, but had failed each time.
The Ohio State Department says that it would allow a casino to operate in four of Ohio's cities: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. This would require the casino owner to pay a fee of $50 million for licensing and a minimum investment of five times that, but would also allow casinos to operate constantly.
Despite similar proposals being resoundingly defeated in the past, Issue 3 passed with 52.97 percent of the vote.
Issue 1: According to the Ohio Secretary of State's Web site, Issue 1 was an initiative intended to help veterans of the Persian Gulf War, Iraq War and Afghanistan War.
It contained four parts, the first authorizing the state of Ohio to "issue up to two hundred million dollars of bonds to provide compensation" to the veterans.
The second component allowed the state to give the compensation to any Ohio resident who served in any of the wars at any time, and the third allowed for select survivors to reap the same benefits as would be bestowed upon the families of soldiers who died, were designated missing or were held captive.
The final part allowed Ohio to do so from the time of ratification until Dec. 31, 2013.
According to the state department's unofficial results, this issue passed with a huge majority of 72.15 percent, or a 44-point margin of victory.
Issue 2: This issue was more closely contested, and required that Ohio government make standards for the treatment of animals in agriculture and that these rules be the same across the board.
What at first glance appears to be an animal rights initiative was in fact opposed by animal welfare organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, while it was sponsored by agribusiness.
It was seen by proponents as a way to protect family farms, and by opponents as a way of avoiding harsher regulations.
This proposal also passed with 63.66 percent of the vote.
Issue 3: The controversial Issue 3 was a casino initiative that Ohio has seen multiple times in the past few years, but had failed each time.
The Ohio State Department says that it would allow a casino to operate in four of Ohio's cities: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. This would require the casino owner to pay a fee of $50 million for licensing and a minimum investment of five times that, but would also allow casinos to operate constantly.
Despite similar proposals being resoundingly defeated in the past, Issue 3 passed with 52.97 percent of the vote.
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