The following is a list of statewide initiatives and referendums modifying state law and proposing state constitutional amendments in Ohio, sorted by election.
Before 1910
1867 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment denying the right to vote to draft dodgers, deserters, and people who engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the US government and repealing the provision limiting voting rights to whites.216,987 (45.94%)255,340 (54.06%)
1883 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment replacing district courts with circuit courts and reorganizing the Supreme Court.400,919 (73.53%)144,335 (26.47%)Amendment 2A constitutional amendment allowing the general assembly to tax and regulate the traffic of intoxicating liquors.99,238 (25.59%)288,605 (74.41%)Amendment 3A constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufacture of and traffic in intoxicating liquors to be used as a beverage.323,129 (58.78%)226,595 (41.22%)
1903 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesGovernor's Veto AmendmentA constitutional amendment giving veto power to the governor.458,681 (57.55%)338,317 (42.45%)
1910s
1910 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesConstitutional Convention QuestionA measure calling for a constitutional convention.693,263 (91.10%)67,718 (8.90%)
1912 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesAbolition of Capital Punishment AmendmentA constitutional amendment abolishing the death penalty.258,706 (46.04%)303,246 (53.96%)Municipal Home Rule AmendmentA constitutional amendment allowing for municipal home rule.301,861 (58.39%)215,120 (41.61%)Limiting Veto Power of Governor AmendmentA constitutional amendment lowering the threshold for overriding the governor's veto from a 2/3 vote to a 3/5 vote of all members in each house.282,412 (52.63%)254,186 (47.37%)Initiative and Referendum AmendmentA constitutional amendment creating the initiative and referendum process.312,592 (57.47%)231,312 (42.53%)Methods of Submitting Amendments to the Constitution AmendmentA constitutional amendment requiring constitutional amendments to receive a simple majority of votes to pass rather than a majority of the total votes cast in the election.271,827 (52.42%)246,687 (47.58%)Voter Qualifications AmendmentA constitutional amendment removing the word "white" from voter qualifications.242,735 (47.74%)265,693 (52.26%)Women's Suffrage AmendmentA constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote.249,420 (42.54%)336,875 (57.46%)Eligibility of Women to Certain Offices AmendmentA constitutional amendment allowing women to hold certain offices.261,806 (47.93%)284,370 (52.07%)
1914 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesAlcohol Prohibition AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufacture, importation, and sale of alcoholic beverages.504,177 (46.15%)588,329 (53.85%)Women's Suffrage AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote.335,390 (39.29%)518,295 (60.71%)
1915 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesAlcohol Prohibition AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.484,969 (47.30%)540,377 (52.70%)
1917 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesAlcohol Prohibition AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.522,590 (47.04%)588,382 (52.96%)Women's Suffrage in Presidential Elections ReferendumA referendum granting women the right to vote in presidential elections.422,282 (42.63%)568,382 (57.37%)
1918 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesAlcohol Prohibition AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.463,354 (51.41%)437,895 (48.59%)Veto Referendums on Legislative Ratification of Federal Constitutional Amendments AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment allowing veto referendums on the state legislature's ratification of federal constitutional amendments.508,282 (61.74%)315,030 (38.26%)
1919 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesRepeal Alcohol Prohibition AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment repealing the prohibition of alcohol.454,933 (47.80%)496,876 (52.20%)Definition of Intoxicating Liquor AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment excluding beverages with 2.75% or less alcohol by weight from the definition of intoxicating liquor.474,907 (48.48%)504,688 (51.52%)Alcohol Prohibition ReferendumA referendum establishing the prohibition of alcohol.474,078 (48.63%)500,812 (51.37%)Ratification of 18th Amendment ReferendumA referendum upholding the state's ratification of the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, which established federal prohibition of alcohol.499,971 (49.98%)500,450 (50.02%)
1920s
1920 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesAlcohol Prohibition ReferendumA referendum establishing the prohibition of alcohol.1,062,470 (57.91%)772,329 (42.09%)
1921 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesVeteran's Bonuses AmendmentA constitutional amendment allowing the state to issue bonds to pay World War I veterans $10 for each month of their service.949,109 (74.52%)324,447 (25.48%)Senate Redistricting AmendmentA constitutional amendment reapportioning the Ohio Senate into 26 districts.336,574 (39.36%)518,524 (60.64%)Poll Tax AmendmentA constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to establish a poll tax.244,509 (26.66%)672,581 (73.34%)
1922 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesPermit Low-Alcohol Beverages AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment legalizing the manufacture and sale of beverages with less than 2.75% or less alcohol by weight for home consumption and legalizing the possession of intoxicating liquors at home for personal use.719,050 (44.18%)908,522 (55.82%)Debt Limits AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment establishing debt limits for political subdivisions.499,203 (41.93%)691,471 (58.07%)Tax Limitations AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment limiting tax rates to 15 mills unless a higher rate is approved by voters.475,740 (39.78%)720,237 (60.22%)
1923 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesIndustrial Commission Authority AmendmentA constitutional amendment expanding the power of the Industrial Commission.588,851 (52.70%)528,572 (47.30%)Voter Qualifications AmendmentA constitutional amendment removing the phrase "white male" from voter qualifications.536,762 (56.00%)421,744 (44.00%)Publication of Ballot Measures AmendmentA constitutional amendment authorizing the state to publish copies of ballot measures in newspapers instead of distributing copies to voters.351,513 (41.58%)493,786 (58.42%)Pension InitiativeAn initiative establishing an old age pension.390,599 (33.44%)777,351 (66.56%)Property Tax Assessment ReferendumA referendum establishing the county as the unit for property tax assessment and abolishing the office of township assessor.231,152 (23.20%)765,163 (76.80%)Taxes, Bonds, and Local Budgets ReferendumA referendum amending laws relating to taxes and the issuance of bonds and creating a local budget system.367,277 (33.53%)728,087 (66.47%)
1925 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesDebt Restrictions AmendmentA constitutional amendment placing debt restrictions on political subdivisions.450,218 (45.69%)535,251 (54.31%)Property Taxes AmendmentA constitutional amendment establishing uniform rules for the taxation of real estate and tangible property and providing for the taxation of intangible property.435,944 (46.52%)501,221 (53.48%)Tax Limitations AmendmentA constitutional amendment establishing 4-year terms for state and county officers.325,451 (37.47%)543,183 (62.53%)
1926
August 1926 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesLocal Property Assessment AmendmentA constitutional amendment allowing municipalities to levy assessments on properties benefiting from public improvements for 100% of the project's cost instead of 50% of the cost.234,754 (39.99%)352,301 (60.01%)
November 1926 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesElimination of Compulsory Primaries AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment eliminating compulsory primary elections.405,152 (35.28%)743,313 (64.72%)
1927 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesBoard of Chiropractic Examiners InitiativeAn initiative establishing a state board of chiropractic examiners.522,612 (40.58%)765,093 (59.42%)Fees of Justices of the Peace and Constables ReferendumA referendum establishing fees of Justices of the Peace and Constables.438,458 (32.37%)916,016 (67.63%)
1928 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesJudicial Compensation AmendmentAn initiated constitutional amendment applying changes to judicial compensation regardless of if a judge is already holding office.704,248 (37.04%)1,197,324 (62.96%)
1929 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesProperty Tax Limit AmendmentA constitutional amendment authorizing property to be classified for tax purposes and limiting property tax rates to 15 mills.710,538 (58.17%)510,874 (41.83%)
1980s
1980
June 1980 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesIssue 1A constitutional amendment allowing non-profit organizations to become political subdivisions of the state for the purpose of operating electric utilities.793,256 (41.36%)1,124,596 (58.64%)Issue 2A constitutional amendment allowing the state and local governments to borrow money to construct low-income housing.797,020 (41.21%)1,137,028 (58.79%)Issue 3A constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of bonds for transportation projects.815,011 (42.91%)1,084,438 (57.09%)Issue 4A constitutional amendment requiring copies of proposed municipal or county charters or amendments to charters to each household with a registered voter and allowing the legislature to provide other means for publicizing proposed charters.868,199 (47.59%)956,204 (52.41%)
November 1980 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesIssue 1A constitutional amendment allowing the general assembly to classify real property for tax purposes.1,973,344 (52.98%)1,751,277 (47.02%)Issue 2An initiative changing state taxes on income, real state, corporations, and personal property.880,671 (22.69%)3,000,028 (77.31%)
1981 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesIssue 1An initiated constitutional amendment allowing private insurance companies to sell worker's compensation insurance coverage.572,227 (20.91%)2,164,395 (79.09%)Issue 2An initiated constitutional amendment changing the methods for establishing congressional and state legislative districts.1,093,485 (41.94%)1,513,502 (58.06%)
1982 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesIssue 1A constitutional amendment allowing the state to issue revenue bonds to make financing available for low-cost housing.1,827,453 (57.40%)1,356,336 (42.60%)Issue 2A constitutional amendment authorizing the construction of a high-speed rail system and levying a 1% sales tax to fund it.708,605 (22.64%)2,420,593 (77.36%)Issue 3An initiated constitutional amendment providing for the elections of members of the Public Utilities Commission and providing public financing for their campaigns.1,053,274 (32.62%)2,175,893 (67.38%)
1983 Measure nameDescriptionStatusYes votesNo votesIssue 1An initiated constitutional amendment raising the minimum age for alcohol possession and consumption to 21 years old.1,386,959 (41.37%)1,965,469 (58.63%)Issue 2An initiated constitutional amendment requiring a 3/5ths supermajority in the general assembly to increase taxes.1,354,320 (40.77%)1,967,129 (59.23%)Issue 3An initiated constitutional amendment repealing all taxes passed since 1982.1,452,061 (43.54%)1,883,270 (56.46%)
1985