Ohio concludes a hastily called and highly charged special election Tuesday, a contest that could determine the fate of abortion rights in the state and fuel political playbooks nationally heading into 2024. On the ballot is Issue 1, a proposal to raise the threshold for passing future changes to the state's constitution from a simple majority to 60%. But more passionately in the sights of the proposal's backers — including Republican officeholders — is a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot that calls for enshrining access to reproductive care in the state's foundational document. The measure was clearly resonating with voters, who turned out in huge numbers during the early voting period, which ended Sunday. The number of advance ballots cast — a combination of mail and early in-person ballots — hit nearly 700,000, more than double the early vote during the state's two previous midterm primary elections in 2022 and 2018. Ohio's August elections have historically focused on local issues and been plagued with chronically low turnout. The Republican lawmakers who backed Issue 1 maintained that the measure was not about thwarting the fall abortion amendment, despite reinstating an August special election just like the ones they had only recently voted to eliminate. Raising the bar for passing citizen-led constitutional amendments could make it difficult, if not impossible, for the fall proposal to succeed, based on polling figures. Voters in several states, even deeply conservative ones, have affirmed abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, though usually with less than 60% of the vote. AP VoteCast polling last year found that 59% of Ohio voters say abortion should generally be legal. Out-of-state money has poured into both sides of the contest over the 60% threshold, even as both supporters and opponents say one of their main goals is to keep special interests from having more influence over state policy than average Ohioans. The campaign in favor of Issue 1, Protect Our Constitution, has told voters that raising the threshold will keep deep-pocketed interest groups from pushing redistricting, gun control and minimum wage policies on Ohio. One Person One Vote, the opposition campaign, argues that raising the threshold for passing future amendments would prioritize the interests of Ohio's increasingly conservative GOP supermajority at the statehouse over those of everyday voters. But abortion rights are at the epicenter of the fight, as Ohio and other states have been given control of their own abortion policies following the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last summer. Ohio's ban on most abortions had been placed on hold under Roe and then allowed to take effect briefly after the court overturned it. Since then, it has been frozen again while a challenge alleging it violates the state constitution plays out. The abortion amendment would give individuals the right to make their own reproductive health care decisions, including on contraception, fertility treatment, abortion and miscarriage care, until a fetus is viable outside the womb. At the same time, a broad bipartisan coalition opposes Issue 1 for other reasons. Former Ohio governors and attorneys general of both parties have come out against the constitutional change, calling it poor public policy. If passed it would reverse 111 years of direct democracy that has the potential to affect future citizen-led ballot efforts. Protect Women Ohio, the campaign against the fall abortion question, has spent millions on the August election — airing ads suggesting the measure not only codifies abortion, but could pressure children into receiving gender-affirming care and undercut parental rights. Several legal experts have said there is no language in the amendment supporting the ads' claims, but it follows a pattern through this election cycle of misinformation and fear-mongering being used to sway voters. Issue 1 opponents have aired ads and mobilized a large coalition, including voting rights, labor, faith and community groups, as well as the state Democratic Party. It was because of chronically low turnout that lawmakers voted just last year to scrap summer elections, prompting an unsuccessful lawsuit alleging this year's August special election violated the new law and calling further into question if it was brought back solely to thwart abortion rights for Ohioans. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Samantha Hendrickson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. 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Formula 1’s chief executive has hinted that the organisation may have to consider ways of limiting Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s dominance next season. Verstappen secured a record 17th win of the 2023 campaign at the Brazilian Grand Prix and has long since sewn up a third consecutive world title. The Dutchman has dominated the sport since pipping Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 Drivers’ Championship. While dominance by a single driver or team is far from new, with Hamilton himself securing six titles in seven years between 2014 and 2020, the scale of Verstappen’s superiority has been striking. And while stressing that F1 could not be seen to be targeting the 26-year-old, Stefano Domenicali has hinted that measures may have to be put in place to allow other constructors to mount a more serious challenge. “I think if you look back at the dominance of a driver or a team, it’s always been a part of F1,” Domenicali said to Channel 4. “We need to consider one thing that for sure Max Verstappen has done and is doing an incredible job. We need to recognise that. “But if you see [the gaps in qualifying], it’s just incredible. If you look at the numbers of overtaking we are having the last two seasons, we are at the top of the scale. “We cannot be seen as a sport that is trying to do something against someone, that would be wrong. “On the other hand, the nature of Formula 1 is to make sure that next year the teams can give to the other drivers - that are very, very strong - the possibility to compete in that field.” Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship standings by a remarkable 266 points from teammate Sergio Perez. Only Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz at the Singapore Grand Prix has been able to break Red Bull’s monopoly on race wins this year. There are just two more races to come before the conclusion of the campaign, with a first trip to Las Vegas followed by the denouement at Abu Dhabi, where Verstappen secured a controversial first crown two years ago. Hamilton, who fell short on that occasion, raised eyebrows after racing concluded at Interlagos on Sunday when suggesting that Red Bull were so far ahead that other teams would find it too hard to close the gap for the next couple of years. “The Red Bull, I think, is so far away,” the British driver said. “I think they’re probably going to be very clear for the next couple of years. The next truly significant change to the sport is set to come in 2026 when new engine regulations will take effect. It is hoped that this will help level the playing field and attract new engine manufacturers to the sport, with a number already having expressed interest.

Eagle-eyed social media spectators of King Charles III's coronation couldn't take their eyes off one guest, leaving them wondering who it was. The grey-haired man was sporting a mullet and moustache while sitting alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber. His look was completed with a pair of tinted sunglasses. Almost immediately, viewers turned to Twitter, asking who the mysterious "cool" man was, with one joking: "Meghan, you’re not fooling us…" Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Sadly it wasn't her as earlier this month, the palace said in a statement: "Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6th May. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet." The man is, of course, Sir Karl Jenkins, composer and instrumentalist. The 79-year-old composed a piece for Charles' coronation titled 'Tros y Garreg', translating to 'Crossing the Stone'. "I am very honoured. It obviously sums up Welsh culture - the harp - and he [the King] has always supported Welsh music," he told the BBC ahead of the event. "I don't know whether he chose it, but he was happy to have it there. I know he likes it otherwise he wouldn't have asked me." He spoke about the late Queen's 1953 coronation, saying: "We had one of the first TV screens in the street, in the village I guess...12in (30cm) screen, two rows of friends and neighbours watching." He added: "I am very honoured. It obviously sums up Welsh culture - the harp - and he [the King] has always supported Welsh music," said Sir Karl. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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