Ohio Fair Wage said Wednesday afternoon that it wouldn’t meet the signature requirements to get an amendment to raise the minimum wage on the November ballot.
Advocates for a $15 minimum wage needed to collect more than 413,000 valid signatures from at least half of Ohio's 88 counties by Wednesday’s deadline. Ohio Fair Wage said it wouldn’t meet the 44-county requirement.
In a statement, Ohio Fair Wage claimed it came up short because fewer signatures were collected in rural counties where there was "violence and intimidation toward our lower-wage worker of color canvassers."
“While we are very close to our goal, we want to continue collecting signatures to honor and respect the tremendous effort so many workers have contributed,” the statement reads. “We are disappointed by determined to continue collecting until we have enough to put $15 plus tips on the November 2025 ballot.”
Ohio’s current minimum wage is $10.45 for non-tipped workers and $5.25 for tipped workers.
This is a developing story and will be updated.