>> OHIO COUNTS DOWN TO ELECTION DAY.

>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK to go BEFORE ELECTION DAY, THE ABORTION RIGHTS CAMPAIGN IS INTESIFYING.

IF PASSED, ISSUE ONE WOULD ENSHRINE ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE CONSTITUTION.

SUPPORTERS HAVE THE FUNDRAISING ADVANTAGE, RAISING THREE TIMES THE AMOUNTT OPPONENTS HAVE raised.

SO LOOKING TO SEE THAT PLAY OUT ON WITH THE NUMBER TV ADS IN THE COMING DAYS.

GOVENROR DEWINE IS SOFTENING HIS STANCE ON OHIO'S SIX WEEK ABORTION BAN WHICH IS ON HOLD RIGHT NOW.

THIS WEEK HE TOLD WCMH TV THAT THE LAW GOES TOO FAR, A COMMENT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN HIS POSITION WHEN HE SIGNED THE LAW IN 2019.

>> the signing of this bill today is consistent with that respect for life and the imperitve to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

>> THE GOVERNOR TELLS CHANNEL FOUR HE NOW THINKS THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD CONSIDER MAKING AN EXCEPTION FOR RAPE AND INCEST.

AFTER SIGNING that law, HE WAS ASKED THAT VERY QUESTION, AND THIS IS HOW HE ANSWERED IT.

>> this is an administration that has and will continue, in the budget we have presented to the general assembly has a great deal of focus on helping pregnant women, making sure they have every assistance that they need.

>> The governor was pretty clear in 2019, the government's role is to protect the vulnerable.

He said it -- the law protected the unborn, which I considered vulnerable.

And when asked about exceptions for or incest, he said look at the state budget.

>> Well, a lot has, a lot has changed in that time.

We obviously saw the overturning of Roe v. Wade at the federal level and the protections that will enhance.

And that has created a sort of a -- rolling series of events across the state, as they try to decide what to do with abortion.

And every single case so far states -- they have upheld abortion rights.

So, the Republican Party which has been sort of very stringent in restrictions now is seeing reality hit.

Enforcing these laws and also looking at prevailing public opinion on the issue, and hoping not to be on the wrong side of the issue.

So, we have seen a lot of groups, including Anthony -- pro-life differential, talking about compromises on what some would call abortion abolition.

>> So, Derrick, this has been a very consistent position for governor DeWine, since he first entered public life, he's opposed to abortion rights.

If you are opposed to abortion rights, why compromise now?

Is it because he sees the writing on the wall or is he having a change of heart?

>> I think things evolve, not only in biology, but also in politics.

And many months, several months earlier this year, he was warning the legislature, people have the power of the referendum in Ohio, they need to look at what is realistic.

And when you look around the world, most of Europe has a 15, 18-week limit.

And they're wondering whether that is something, clearly the exception, I remember back to 1990 when they ran with George Brockovich, also they modified their position to allow that point, exceptions for and incest.

So, politicians have to balance out where the public is at, where they think the law is, and again, Roe v. Wade came down and you saw what happened.

It was a point where people had to realize what is really gonna work or not.

>> Derrick Clay, I also, Obama when he was in office, he evolved on the issue of marriage.

When he was president, I forgot it was first or second term, he said he now supported it.

Is there an evolution, or is it following where the voters are going?

>> I think it could be a little bit of where the voters are going.

I mean, there are several polls out there that say that the public is clearly in favor of issue one.

You know, this is really about choice.

And people in the state are tired of the government telling them how to regulate their bodies.

>> Coming to the legislature, can you get them to compromise on this?

Maybe the or incest exception if issue number two feels.

>> We'll see how if this issue passes, what kind of margin it is.

It's interesting, what Derrick said, this whole abortion side, one of the big messages is about protecting freedom and protecting people from government control.

And normally, that is the Republican conservative message.

Obviously, these things would get intertwined, and different sides take different views.

But their whole message of freedom is interesting.

>> He says that, you know, if you want issue number two, she won rather, to move in the legislature, try to work on compromises.

Maybe going back to the ballot.

Another amendment, he said the majority of Ohioans who won that.

If issue one passes, that's the majority of Ohioans, right?

>> Right.

And there's a possibility it would be far more than just a single majority as well.

And we think based on polling, we have seen 55, 58% of Americans who, not only in Ohio.

So, I think the question of latching onto legislature, far under -- and they could have stressed every number of points.

Obviously, DeWine tried to get them to it, as Terry mentioned before.

And maybe we should work here on something.

And I was under the impression that behind the scenes, he was trying to press that point.

We could come out like champions here for, you know, some kind of a compromise, most people like, and we can dislike the idea of going to the ballot with.

And that never happened.

>> Getting to the campaign, Derrick, the side -- financial disclosures has waged $29 million.

And on the other side 10 million.

I don't think I've seen $29 million worth of TV ads.

Do you find that number -- based on what we are seeing on TV from ads in the campaign?

>> We have seen a ramp up in recent weeks, right?

It doesn't seem like it will be $29 million worth of campaign ads.

But when you think of, you know, the Cleveland market, the central market, Cincinnati, so on, and so forth, I mean, it could add up to that.

You know, I know that there is a lot of folks, a lot of money that is both from the state in this issue.

And I think that you're going to see a barrage of ads between now and election day.

>> The reasons why the 29 million is so big, what the issue campaign, you see if you have to pay the higher market rate to get TV ads on.

Whereas if you are a candidate, you pay lower, lower rate.

So, that's part of the difference.

Plus, there's a lot of out of state consultants on both sides.

And for some reason, who the revenue sharing, put a lot of money in their pockets.

>> On the other side, one third the amount that shows a lot of enthusiasm.

>> Well, they've had more difficulty raising money.

And part of it is, I think part of the factor in play now is we have the August state election.

And there are a lot of voters with questions on turnout, in urban areas, certain other areas, what is the turnout, is it exciting -- people think we already decided this for August 8th.

And when you go out to the rural parts of the state, I think there's more enthusiasm than the numbers show.

There's a little bit more voter activity out there.

>> Right.

It does seem like, you know, the number difference also shows, I think, because issue one of August, issue 1.0 -- was decided.

They could've had some trouble because people saw the writing on the wall, and that these were similar.

I don't know that they necessarily were similar because a lot of independents, they did not want to modify the constitution, constitutional threshold for passing amendments from 50% to 60%.

And that's a totally different question then abortion.

>> Yes, I mean, these issues do cross party lines.

What it does -- the campaign legalizing recreational marijuana has been fairly quiet.

BUT THE YES ON ISSUE 2 CAMPAIGN IS UP WITH ITS FIRST TV AD.

IT PLAYS ON OHIO'S RIVALRY WITH MICHIGAN AND CLAIMS OHIO IS LOSING LOTS OF TAX REVENUE BECAUSE OHIOANS ARE TRAVELING TO THE STATE TO THE NORTH TO BUY LEGAL MARIJUANA.

Not that marijuana is safe or it should be regulated like alcohol -- and people traveled to Michigan -- you know -- >> Listen, we love our Buckeyes.

We are competitive when it comes to the state of Michigan.

I think it's relatively, it's smart on their behalf to kind of compare us to Michigan, and say how revenue is going to the state of north versus staying here in Ohio.

>> This is one of the playbook for realizing -- all the money is going to Pennsylvania and West Virginia and Indiana, and we should keep that money here, right?

>> The economy was really bad and people heard that time and time -- again [inaudible] I've seen this ad, but there's no much behind it.

I've seen an ad for the no side.

That's pretty good.

They've made some good messages.

Again, the questions, when are both are gonna put in some money?

One of the problems on the yes side for marijuana, they spent so much money in the effort to get the petitions, and signatures they did not have much left to run the campaign.

So, it's a tale of two cities, these campaigns, one with tons of money, the other with very limited money.

And we'll see what happens in the last from last week.

The issue is very fluid because if you look at the poll, age 50 plus that are more likely to vote, it was like and even thing.

They got a big turnout of younger voters in the urban areas who were passive.

>> And regarding issue two on that campaign, I think that, you know, their argument so far haven't really broken through.

I mean, it really has to do with safety, you know, they have studies on traffic safety.

And there is manufacturers, groups that are out against workplace safety, and workers unions, and other things.

Those are pretty in the weeds right now -- I don't know.

I don't know how -- if that can get through.

And when voting has already begun a couple of weeks ago.

>> That's still and whether to flee new industry, they relatively new industry.

Washington state and Colorado, some of the states that have legalized it.

Still a young industry.

>> When you talk to nurses in children's hospitals, one of the bigger problems are kids coming to the E.R.

because of gummies a left around by their parents.

And then, this law actually requires a certain potency.

And there's limits on levels of alcohol, what the content percentage is.

>> But this is not down party lines, I talked earlier to a guy this week, and he showed that in Maryland, where they improved approved this last year, all counties voted for it.

They are not divided as we are, not quite the same.

But they have red counties and blue counties, and every county voted to legalize marijuana, even hard red Republican counties.

>> Absolutely.

It is a popular issue.

And it will pass on election day.

You know, it's gonna pass big.

Now, the question is, you know, how the legislature deals with it.

>> And urban counties, it didn't do it, it past but not by the margins that the government wanted in Maryland.

They first said it was -- how do you get young people out in an audio election, there is no president on the ballot?

Donald Trump is on the ballot, Barack Obama is on the ballot to energize people.

>> I think that this is one of those issues for young people that are voting yes, definitely come out.

It's something that, you know, whether you are 21, or whether you are 41 or 51, you know, people want their Cummings.

You know what, they want their substances.

Right now, other folks go to other states to get it.

>> I've been talking to some of the groups that are trying to mobilize the young voters.

And they are claiming there's a lot of motivation around issue one that could carry to issue two as far as getting folks out.

I know that there was some confusion, but originally -- I mean, who hold voters, not only young voters, as far as what they already decided on the abortion issue in the summer, which was sort of a proxy no, but it wasn't.

So, I think that will, they said that the they have been working on reeducating people who and how they need to get out and vote.

>> But it's like the TV ads -- issue one is totally opposite, but issue one, it could be confusing to folks who are not paying close attention.

>> You gotta remember, in this election year, and I think I picked up from election officials around the state, there is a difference in a lot of the rubble and medium sized counties.

There's a lot of voter interest out there because naturally for them, township trustees, school boards, local city councils, that's more important than pressing in some big cities where there is no competition and no excitement out there.

>> Our next topic, the process of voting CONTINUES TO CAUSE CONFUSION AND CONTROVERSY.

VOTERS NOW MUST SHOW A PHOTO ID.

AND A FAIR NUMBER OF VOTERS DID NOT HAVE ONE WHEN THEY TRIED TO CAST A BALLOT IN AUGUST.

AN OHIO PUBLIC RADIO ANALYSIS OF REJECTED PROVISIONAL BALLOTS SHOWS THE NUMBER of BALLOTS REJECTED IN AUGUST WAS FOUR TIMES WAS IT WAS IN LAST NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

AND THIS WEEK IT CAME OUT THAT SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LAROSE QUIETLY PURGED SOME 26-THOUSAND VOTERS FROM THE ROLLS LAST MONTH.

THE MOVE WAS LEGAL AND REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW.

BUT DOING IT A MONTH BEFORE A STATEWIDE ELECTION FEATURING CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES HAS RAISED QUESTIONS.

Terry, why not just wait until after November to purge -- >> As you correctly made the point, it was in 1993 law signed by the court.

It requires these so-called list maintenance, because government records, whether it's your home or court, it didn't have to be accurate.

And they know if you missed one election, you are immediately purged.

It's almost a six year plus practice, and they send out a variety of first class -- mail in order to get people.

But if you are a voter, there's some responsibility, if you are moving around to register new or cancel your old ones.

So, it's not the big thing that some people want.

And by the way, what Ohio does and how we do it, in 2018, it was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court decision, saying what was done by Republican and democratic secretary states is legal and required.

>> Julie, one of the questions, in the past, secretaries of state, they issued a press release -- >> And the order actually was issued in June.

And it laid out the states.

Now, one of the questions is, because I talk to a lot of election officials as well, and you know, generally, this would have been in the year to do with.

We had a surprise August election, which kind of got in the way of that.

So, it was paused.

But I talked to a couple of big counties who haven't even done it yet, including a county which had elections in that window that La Rose had said.

So, some did, some didn't.

Most of them said to me her, and I actually did not write about it because I feel there's so much confusion out there, it will make people wonder if they were purged when it wasn't the case.

It's often people who have moved, or who have died.

>> Listen, I understand that it's the law, right?

I understand that the press release was sent out several months before.

But in this age of social media, you know, this digital age that we are in, you could give voters the respect and the courtesy to let them know that this purge is coming, right?

And that's why, that's why, that's why people always think that elected officials have things to hide because stuff like this happens.

>> But they do notify people by U.S. post office, forward their meals to their next address, et cetera.

So, they've made a lot of different steps.

But it's hard to reach everybody, particularly people around -- >> But don't forget that La Rose had set a precedent of sharing the list before the removals were made, with some good government groups who are trying to work on, you know, NAACP, League of Women Voters, and other voter rights groups who are trying to contact these folks and keep them from getting it and properly remove.

And that also did not happen in addition to the press release.

So, whether it was just, he was possibly running for Senate, or maybe, you know, it was such a crazy year and all kinds of other things.

>> We talked about the photo I.D.. Now, obviously, the first election, actually not in May, it wasn't the first election with a photo I.D.

requirement, and August was another one, and warmer would be another one.

We just don't know if you need it yet.

But part of the problem is that rules keep changing.

A set of rules, maybe just keep them for two election cycles, so we know what the rules are.

>> Sure.

I mean, first of, you know, we need to know who you are and who you represent -- right?

So, the ideal thing, I totally get that.

But because the rules keep changing, you also need to increase your communication to the voters to let them know what those rules are.

And, you know, a press release, everybody doesn't see the press release that went out.

Everybody is on social media, though.

Most people are.

It takes two seconds to put a ten second notice out there to say that approach is coming, or this changes coming.

I just think it's responsible as an elected official to do that.

>> Are there any more voting changes coming, Terry?

Or are we gonna settle in for a while and get used to the system?

>> Part of it is people, groups from out of state keep filing lawsuits and making a tangle.

But hopefully, it is settled out.

And we haven't mentioned one little thing on election day, people had signatures on we destructing.

But then they screwed up in their petition, so that won't be in the polling places.

>> Here you said that they had something, 15th, it would've been 19, the other way around.

Lifted by one number.

Nobody caught it.

They didn't catch in the first time.

The attorney general didn't catch it.

The ballot office did not catch it.

Somebody caught it and said, well, let's start over.

>> Right.

They literally are going back to the drawing board.

Hopefully, as our Attorney General rejected their language, two different times before they caught proof, so hopefully, if they just change that number, recollect 1000 signatures and get it back to them, it won't run into problems with what regard to rejection.

Again, now, their time will get tighter and tighter.

>> This is called -- because they hope to have this petition ready to go for right now, early voting time in election day, get signatures, high quality ballot signature.

Now, they're gonna have to hire additional signatures down the road.

>> Not just money, taxpayer money, taxpayer money that could have been saved in this.

>> This is an effort, some out of state money, in order to change our constitution.

>> Talking about election officials and reviews -- >> You are absolutely right.

>> These details are important, but if we don't have the details right, people go to court, arguing, and things get -- so, if you're gonna do it, you better do it right.

>> First up, they said it was wrong, anyway -- there are other races and ISSUES ON THE BALLOT, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, SCHOOL BOARD AND SCHOOL LEVIES.

COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS SEEKS A 100 MILLION DOLLAR LEVY.

ABOUT HALF THE LEVY WOULD PAY FOR OPERATING EXPENSES.

THE OTHER HALF WOULD PAY TO MAINTAIN THE DISTRICT'S MORE THAN 100 SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

IT WOULD COST PROPERTY OWNERS ABOUT 270 DOLLARS FOR EACH 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN VALUE.

SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY THE DISTRICT NEEDS THE MONEY TO MAKE UP FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDING WHICH ENDS SOON.

OPPONENTS CRITICISE THE WAY ADMINISTRATORS RUN THE DISTRICT AND POINT TO DECLINING ENROLLMENT.

Terry Casey, you're not a fan of this ticket, but is it the levee itself, or the fight towards it?

>> The interesting thing, I went to fact-check this morning, I talk to the treasury's office.

Today, October 11th, they had 400 and $68 million there in cash, unspent.

Plus, they've got a bunch of COVID money, they have got until September next year to spend.

They are spending $36,000 per pupil.

If asked amount of money for the limited number of students they have.

And the question is, they're building, it was revealed on the TV show this week, uncovered, a building half he was, and I would guess if the board looked at the number of non teaching staff, leave Iraq rusty, they could save money that way.

Because the money ought to be focused in the classroom.

>> In the performance, obviously, there's one district out of 607 in the whole state that had a lower score on their performance.

So, customers who are generally saying, do you really need the money?

What are you gonna do with it?

Why haven't you been performing?

>> There have been many more challenges and suburban districts from socioeconomic issues.

But, Derek, this has been a pretty divisive issue.

The NAACP has come out again, school board members have come out again, it's a unified front.

>> Sure.

Not quite sure where they, NAACP, and the total reasoning for coming out against the letter.

But what I will say is that this levy is important because this is the future workforce of central Ohio.

And we have all these new companies coming here, we've got a new Honda plant, we've got 40 plus suppliers to the intel plant.

So, when you have school things that are averaging 45, that are averaging 45 years old, then we are gonna have to make sure that those school buildings are up to date for our kids so that they can learn the best environment possible.

>> The argument was that, a lot of what the NAACP makes, the school department is not well run.

They didn't like the way the research was handled, and that this is more of a criticism of their administration, whether the money is too much or too little.

>> Yeah, we have to talk to them about that.

But I know that Dr. Chapman is trying to, you know, turn this School District around and make it world class for not only our workforce, but the workforce around the country.

>> And I don't think we, we can't forget either that the legislature has passed this year, serial versus vouchers.

There is a good chance the school district in this range is gonna be hit pretty hard financially by then.

And also, you know, it's maybe jamming up some of the competition, they're looking forward to say, you know, we need fresh new buildings, and they need to have a way to attract families to stay here rather than to go elsewhere.

>> But the good news, I talked to the treasures office this morning, and they explained that the legislature changed the law, so the money for the vouchers is not coming out of Columbus school money, it's coming out of state money.

So that, I did not realize that until this morning.

So that is good news that 1.64 billion dollars they, had capital operating money, for only 6000 students, they've taken that money for vouchers.

>> The only other thing I will say about that is that if the kids get caught up in these political fights, and those are the ones that are suffering, you know -- >> Off the record time, final parting shots.

Derrick Clay, you go first.

>> This week, groundbreaking -- North American exhibit.

It's gonna be a 30 plus million dollar exhibit.

The last time they got a renovation was a 1995, so it should be good.

>> Terry?

>> We haven't talked about the University of Michigan -- excuse me, Jim Harbaugh be punished accordingly for science stealing and cheating.

And I would offer the suggestion -- Walgreens, that just call him the cheetah, if you think about that animal.

Because I think they kind of go together.

>> All right, Julie?

>> I'm just gonna end with a public service announcement, really close to the election.

And be careful of misinformation, disinformation.

It's everywhere.

I'm working every day on it.

Check your reliable sources to make sure you understand the issues.

>> To that and, as you prepare to vote and we need more information on candidates and issues and the new rules about casting your ballot, VISIT WOSU'S OHIO VOTER GUIDE.

ITS ON OUR WEBSITE WOSU.ORG.

and of course, it's a great day, it's a great year.

And we actually get to trick-or-treat on Halloween.

October 31st, it will be around, we will be handing out candy.

>> THAT'S COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

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AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANYTIME AT OUR WEBSITE WOSU.

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from our crew and from our panel, have a good weekend.