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Election results in Ohio: Real-time updates on what voters decided

The polls have closed. Track the results of Election Day 2023 here.

CLEVELAND — Election Day has arrived! 

Ohio voters decided on two statewide issues -- Issue 1 on abortion rights and Issue 2 on marijuana.

But that's not all...

We're also tracking a number of school levies that could impact your community in addition to a variety of other races.

So what happened with this election? Explore the story below to see time-stamped updates... Be sure to refresh this story often as the most-recent information will appear at the top.

ISSUE 1 LIVE RESULTS

ISSUE 2 LIVE RESULTS

Below is a recap of all the highlights from election day and the results...

5:54 a.m. 3News' Kierra Cotton takes us inside the Cleveland School of Cannabis for an update after Ohio voters passed Issue 2 on the legalization of recreational marijuana:

5:31 a.m. 3News' Carmen Blackwell is following the money and impacts on drivers now that Ohio voters have passed Issue 2, which legalizes the recreational use of marijuana:

5:05 a.m. What happens now that Ohio voters have passed Issue 2 for recreational marijuana? 3News' Carmen Blackwell takes a closer look...

5:02 a.m. We take a closer look at the impact of Issue 1 passing in Ohio and what it means for abortion rights. Plus, you can see some reaction here:

5:01 a.m. Here's a big wrap up of the election results...

2:59 a.m. Here's our full list of results involving school ballot measures across Northeast Ohio, with some races still too close to call. Danielle Wiggins also gave an update on some of the notable issues she's been following: 

TUESDAY COVERAGE

11:25 p.m. Russ Mitchell spoke with Mark Naymik again about some of the results we saw tonight and their possible national implications:

11:10 p.m. Lydia Esparra spoke with Shammas Malik following his election as Akron's mayor:

11:01 p.m. Lynna Lai has the latest on the passage of Ohio Issues 1 and 2:

10:50 p.m. The city of Canton has a new mayor. Canton City Council President William V. Sherer II was elected as the city's next mayor Tuesday night, with the Democrat besting Republican challenger Roy Scott DePew by more than 30 percentage points. It's one of the largest margins of victory for a contested Canton mayoral race in decades.

10:15 p.m. Our Bri Buckley reports that the polling location at Roosevelt Elementary School in Lakewood ran out of ballots towards the end of voting on Tuesday. More than 100 voters waited as new ballots had to be printed out. The location only had 1,800 pre-printed paper ballots for the 1,908 voters who showed up. 

10:05 p.m. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has released a statement on the passage of Issue 1

“Tonight, Ohioans made it clear that women’s health care decisions should be between them and their doctors, not politicians. That’s what I’ve always believed and will continue to fight for in the U.S. Senate. My opponents disagree and have made it clear they would overrule Ohioans by voting for a national abortion ban. While my opponents work to ban abortion, I will continue fighting for and standing with the people of Ohio.”

9:49 p.m. Reaction to the passage of Ohio Issue 1 and 2 are starting to roll in.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb released the following statement:

“For the second time this year, Ohioans showed our state legislature that no one can deny the will of the people. Government overreach into personal, private decisions won’t be tolerated.

"We organized across the state to protect our freedoms and we won - again. We refused to go backward. With abortion enshrined in our state constitution, people will officially have the freedom to determine their own reproductive health care decisions. Our doctors will practice without fear and in the best interest of their patients. And no longer will we put women needlessly at risk.

"Decriminalizing marijuana is a victory for all of us. State Issue 2’s passage promotes safe use, reduces the barriers that disproportionately target Black and brown people and finally ends the prison pipeline for cannabis use.

"Tonight’s results send a clear message to the country: abortion and marijuana legalization are winning issues. They are common-sense issues. While Republicans are a party of the past, pushing to restrict people’s individual freedom at every turn, the Democratic party trusts the American people to make the decisions that are best for them.

"We have momentum in Ohio. The upcoming fight in 2024 will be no different. Ohioans know Sherrod Brown always has our backs in the U.S. Senate. We won’t be fooled by any Republican tricks to deprive us of our rights.”

On Issue 1, President Joe Biden added the below:

"Tonight, Americans once again voted to protect their fundamental freedoms – and democracy won. In Ohio, voters protected access to reproductive health in their state constitution. Ohioans and voters across the country rejected attempts by MAGA Republican elected officials to impose extreme abortion bans that put the health and lives of women in jeopardy, force women to travel hundreds of miles for care, and threaten to criminalize doctors and nurses for providing the health care that their patients need and that they are trained to provide. This extreme and dangerous agenda is out-of-step with the vast majority of Americans. My Administration will continue to protect access to reproductive health care and call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law once and for all."

Vice President Kamala Harris also posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) regarding Issue 1:

9:30 p.m. Two other key results have been called on this Election Night. 

NBC has projected that Ohio Issue 1 will pass, legalizing recreational marijuana across the state. You can read our updated story here.

Also, all precincts have reported in Akron. The city's next mayor will be 32-year-old Shammas Malik. Read about the new Akron mayor here.

9 p.m. The Associated Press has called Ohio Issue 1 as passed. Read our updated story HERE

8:40 p.m. While we wait for more votes to be counted, there's been some history in Pennsylvania tonight. Democrat Cherelle Parker has been elected as Philadelphia’s 100th mayor, becoming the first woman to hold the office.

8:05 p.m. Let's check how some other key issues are faring as Election Night rolls on.

On Issue 38, which would give Cleveland citizens a say on how 2% of the city's budget is spent:

  • No--8,690 (53.40%)
  • Yes--7,584 (46.60%)

Issue 5 has Cuyahoga Community College requesting a 2.1 mill renewal levy with a 0.4 mill increase. The college will use the levy proceeds to "keep tuition affordable, provide up-to-date education and training, enable students to earn two years of college credit, and support technical education and workforce training."

  • Yes--64,405 (65.54%)
  • No--33,860 (34.46%)

7:42 p.m. The state of Ohio has released its first vote totals for Issues 1 and 2:

  • Issue 1: Yes--125,917 (67.04%); No--61,913 (32.96%)
  • Issue 2: Yes--109,637 (58.7%); No--76,808 (41.26%)

We've embedded the vote totals above.

7:30 p.m. The polls have closed! We'll be keeping our eyes on the results as they start to come in.

7:20 p.m. We are just about set for the polls to close. As a reminder, we'll have up-to-the-minute election results at wkyc.com/elections

6:30 p.m. We've got one hour until the polls close. And we also have now launched our special streaming Election Night show, anchored by Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr. You can watch the show below.

6:15 p.m. Signal Cleveland's Mark Naymik joins Russ Mitchell on 3News at 6 to talk more about the implications of Issues 1 and 2.

6 p.m. 3News at 6 is underway. Isabel Lawrence is in Akron and Bri Buckley is in Cleveland for the latest as polls are set to close in 90 minutes.

5:45 p.m. Signal Cleveland Managing Editor Mark Naymik is back on 3News at 5 for a look at Issue 38 in Cleveland, which would give citizens a say on how 2% of the city's budget is spent.

5:30 p.m. Time check! We're down to two hours until the polls close. 

5:03 p.m. The Cuyahoga County Board of Election reports that 229,157 county residents have cast ballots on Election Day. Combined with the over 96,000 absentee votes and the turnout percentage is now at just over 37%.

4:45 p.m. Signal Cleveland's Mark Naymik joined Laura Caso and Matt Rascon on 3News at 4 to talk about the impact of Issue 1 on voter turnout in Ohio.

4:30 p.m. We've got three hours left until the polls close. Let's take a look at some reporting we've had on Election Day during 3News at 4:

Isabel Lawrence kicked off our coverage live from Akron:

Our Senior Health Correspondent Monica Robins has more on the implications of Ohio Issue 2

And Danielle Wiggins has a preview of some key school bond issues on the ballot

4 p.m. Isabel Lawrence is anchoring 3News at 4 live from Firestone Park Community Center in Akron as voting continues. A polling person tells Lawrence that the center has been busy all day with a steady stream of voters. That includes a number of first-time voters.

3:30 p.m. The clock is winding down. We're down to four hours left before the polls close. 

3:27 p.m. Let's head south to Summit County for an update. Voting officials tell our Isabel Lawrence that 42,253 ballots were issued in early voting. You can see the county's absentee report here.

2 p.m. Time check! You have five and a half hours to cast your vote at the polls before they close. 

1:55 p.m. Here's a quick update from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections: 154,614 voters have cast their ballots so far today. An additional 96,644 absentee ballots have been cast. That's a turnout percentage of 28.6%.

12:33 p.m. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is reporting a voter turnout of 130,093 voters within the county so far. That's not counting 96,644 absentee ballots.

Want to know what the turnout for today's General Election looks like in your community? You can follow along with our "Live Voter Turnout" widget on the homepage at www.443vote.us

Posted by Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Tuesday, November 7, 2023

12:30 p.m. Time check! The polls close in seven hours. Then be sure to watch 3News for complete results as they come in.

11:30 a.m. Still planning to vote? You have eight hours before the polls close.

9:47 a.m. Special coverage alert: 3News' Stephanie Haney will be hosting an election streaming special with various guests from 6:30-11 p.m. as results come in...

9:40 a.m. Here's a glimpse inside a polling place in Avon Lake:

8:42 a.m. An important reminder about your vote-by-mail ballots:

All outstanding Vote-by-Mail Ballots MUST be returned to the Board of Elections Drop Box at 2925 Euclid Ave. TODAY by...

Posted by Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Tuesday, November 7, 2023

8:36 a.m. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections has some great, last-minute reminders for voters.

7:41 a.m. Lorain County Board of Elections is ready for the big day.

7:30 a.m. An update from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections:

Are you looking for Election Day assistance? Then, you can call one of our Voter Hotlines! Both hotlines will be live...

Posted by Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Tuesday, November 7, 2023

6:59 a.m. The polls have been open for nearly 30 minutes. Here's a look at one polling location in Cleveland:

6:31 a.m. 3News' Carmen Blackwell reports from a local polling place as voters wait to cast their ballot...

6:30 a.m. The polls are now open throughout Ohio until 7:30 p.m. Need to find your polling place? CLICK HERE.

The polls are open! Follow the latest election updates throughout the day as results come in:...

Posted by WKYC Channel 3 - Cleveland on Tuesday, November 7, 2023

6 a.m. Polls open in 30 minutes.

5:34 a.m. What would happen if Issue 2 passes? 3News' Kierra Cotton takes a closer look...

5:32 a.m. 3News talked with NBC political analyst Steve Kornacki about the impacts of Issue 1...

5:30 a.m. Time check! Polls open in one hour.

5:02 a.m. Watch our team coverage with 3News' Carmen Blackwell, Kierra Cotton and Austin Love as we take a closer look at Issue 1, Issue 2 and school levies:

Below you'll find more fast facts you need to know about voting in Tuesday's election...

WHEN ARE THE POLLS OPEN?

Polls are open throughout Ohio for the Nov. 7 general election from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Remember, you are still permitted to vote as long as you're in line before the polls close at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE IS MY POLLING PLACE?

You can find your polling location HERE.

WHAT FORM OF ID SHOULD I BRING SO I CAN VOTE?

You need to have a form of ID with you to cast a ballot on election day. Acceptable forms of identification as listed by the Secretary of State's office are as follows:

  • Ohio driver's license;
  • State of Ohio ID card;
  • Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV;
  • A US passport;
  • A US passport card;
  • US military ID card;
  • Ohio National Guard ID card; or
  • US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

All photo IDs must have the following:

  • An expiration date that has not passed;
  • A photograph of the voter;
  • The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book

Ohio law prohibits acceptance of the following forms of ID:

  • Driver’s license or photo identification card issued by a state other than Ohio;
  • Social Security card
  • Birth certificate
  • Insurance card
  • Utility bill
  • Bank statement
  • Government check
  • Paycheck
  • Other government document
  • Any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections

WHAT IF I FORGET MY ID?

"If you do not provide one of the above forms of photo ID, you will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot," according to the Secretary of State. "However, for that ballot to be counted, you must return to the board of elections no later than four days following Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification. If you do not have a photo ID because of a religious objection to being photographed, you may complete an affidavit of religious objection and have your provisional ballot count."

WHAT TIME WILL RESULTS COME IN?

We expect to see the first results shortly after 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots are the first votes counted, according to the Secretary of State's office.

WHERE CAN I WATCH FOR RESULTS?

WKYC will share the special election results with updates on Issue 1 after the polls close, which you can check at wkyc.com/elections. Be sure to follow WKYC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for complete coverage. Here's what you can expect from 3News:

  • Breaking election results will be available through push alerts with the free WKYC app. You can download our news app here: Android, Apple.
  • Results and reaction as our reporters bring you the latest details regarding Ohio Issue 1. Watch for these updates during our newscasts at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
  • A complete wrap up the following morning on GO! from 4:30-7 a.m.
  • Subscribe to our free 3News to GO! newsletter HERE to have the election results and other top headlines sent straight to your e-mail inbox.

SHOW OFF YOUR 'I VOTED' STICKER

Did you get your "I Voted" sticker? Send us a picture on Facebook, Twitter or by texting it to us at 216-344-3300 (please include your name and location). If you voted absentee, you can download a virtual "I Voted" sticker to show off HERE.

Want to be among the first to know the most important local and national news? You can download the free WKYC app and get the latest updates sent to your phone: Android, Apple.

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