The campaign for a $15 minimum wage amendment in Ohio has opted to delay submitting the necessary signatures by the state’s deadline, instead aiming for a ballot measure in November 2025, as announced by One Fair Wage.
This decision means that Ohio’s minimum wage will stay at $10.45 for now, a relief for many pro-business groups like the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. Chris Kershner, president and CEO of the Dayton chamber, voiced his concerns about the proposal, questioning its fairness to employers. “Mandates on the business community don’t seem fair to Ohio’s employers,” he commented.
The amendment proposed by One Fair Wage aimed to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 over two years, with future adjustments linked to inflation. Kershner noted the potential challenges for businesses but did not provide specific estimates on the impact.
To qualify for the ballot, the campaign needed to submit 413,487 valid signatures by midnight Wednesday. These signatures had to come from at least 44 counties, with each county providing signatures from 5% of voters in the last gubernatorial election.
One Fair Wage admitted in a statement that they fell short in rural areas, citing “violence and intimidation” against their canvassers. However, they did not offer detailed evidence to support these claims when asked.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose criticized the campaign, describing it as “disorganized” and accusing it of making excuses for not complying with the law. He condemned their attempt to blame rural Ohioans for their shortcomings.
Despite this setback, One Fair Wage intends to keep collecting signatures and try again next year. By postponing their submission, they hope to use the majority of the signatures already collected in the future.
In Ohio, submitting 413,487 signatures starts a verification process where county boards of elections validate the signatures. If the campaign falls short of valid signatures, they are given a 10-day period to gather more.
One Fair Wage is using this additional time to strengthen their campaign for the 2025 ballot measure.