Ohio voters are divided on whether to
allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in the Buckeye State.
According to a Columbus
Dispatch poll, Ohioans oppose marriage equality by 3
percentage points (46 to 43 percent), less than the survey's 3.3
percent margin of error.
The newspaper asked 1,009 likely voters
by mail their opinions on “a proposal that would overturn the state
constitution's ban on same-sex marriage.”
Voters a decade ago voted 62 to 38
percent for the amendment, which defines marriage as a heterosexual
union.
Marriage equality supporters are hoping
to return the issue to the ballot in 2016.
As the Dispatch points out, it's
possible the issue will have been settled before then.
A federal judge last year struck down
Ohio's marriage amendment as unconstitutional. The Cincinnati-based
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is currently reviewing the case, in
addition to similar cases from three other states. If the court
upholds the bans, then it's likely the Supreme Court would get
involved.
Pollsters found that 65 percent of
Democrats support marriage equality, while 68 percent of Republicans
remain opposed. Catholics (46 to 42 percent) and Protestants (56 to
35 percent) are also opposed.