As of press time, Athens County votes for these issues had not been reported because of technical problems.Minimum Wage: Ohio voters passed Issue 2, a constitutional amendment that will raise minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.85 per hour and is the first wage increase since 1996. About 56 percent of Ohio voters supported the issue, which is backed by a coalition of labor organizations. The amendment also requires a hike in the minimum wage with each year that Ohio's cost of living rises.LEARN AND EARN: Voters turned down Issue 3, a proposed amendment that would place up to 31,500 slot machines in nine sites around the state -- approximately 57 percent of Ohio votes cast against the issue. Under the proposed amendment, 30 percent of the revenue generated from the slot machines would fund higher education scholarships and grants.SMOKE LESS OHIO: Smoke Less Ohio, Issue 4 on the ballot, lost the battle of the smoking bans last night, with about 64 percent of Ohio voters casting ballots against the proposed amendment. The issue, primarily sponsored by North Carolina-based R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, aimed to ban smoking in 90 percent of Ohio businesses, excluding bars and other adult establishments. SmokeFreeOhio: About 58 percent of Ohio voters approved Issue 5, a statewide smoking ban that will outlaw smoking in almost all businesses. The SmokeFreeOhio campaign, supported by a coalition of health organizations, is primarily sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
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Janelle Huelsman
