COLUMBUS, Ohio — A grassroots group working to repeal Ohio’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage has cleared an early hurdle in its effort to put the issue before voters in 2026, according to the Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio Equal Rights submitted 2,000 signatures to the Ohio Secretary of State on June 30 which was double the 1,000 required, and received approval from Attorney General Dave Yost on July 3 for the proposed amendment’s title and summary language.
The proposed Ohio Equal Rights Amendment would prohibit discrimination based on a broad range of characteristics, including sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, disability, and military or veteran status. Organizers say it would be the most comprehensive equal rights amendment in the country.
Ohio’s current constitution includes a ban on same-sex marriage approved by voters in 2004, stating that marriage is only between one man and one woman. While the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015, the Ohio ban technically remains on the books.
The next step in the process is a review by the Ohio Ballot Board to determine if the proposed amendment meets the single-subject rule. If approved, organizers can begin gathering the 413,487 valid signatures needed from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties to qualify for the 2026 statewide ballot.
“A 2023 study from the Public Religion Research Institute found that 76% of Ohioans support non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals,” according to the Ohio Capital Journal.
