Ohio voters are significantly concerned about government corruption as midterm elections approach, according to an online poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of the reform group End Citizens United.
The survey, which questioned registered voters between September 8 and September 23, found that two-thirds of Ohio voters consider corruption in government to be a very serious problem. An additional 28% of respondents described it as a somewhat serious problem, meaning a total of 94% of voters in Ohio perceive corruption as an issue.
When asked to prioritize eight pressing issues, "corruption in Washington" ranked as the second most important concern for Ohio voters, following "Economy and rising costs" at No. 1 and preceding "threats to democracy and elections" at No. 3. These findings from the Ohio poll were largely consistent with results from an identical national survey.
Despite the high level of concern, Ohio respondents in the September poll showed a distinct lack of trust in either major political party to tackle corruption. Thirty-five percent of voters indicated they trusted Republicans more to address the issue, while 32% said they trusted Democrats more. This leaves a full third of respondents in the "neither" camp, a division that poll organizers suggested could create opportunities for candidates focused on reform.
The poll indicated that huge majorities of Ohio voters would be more likely to support a candidate based on their commitment to certain reforms designed to combat corruption. While the Ohio poll did not ask voters to define corruption, a separate national poll sponsored by the Brennan Center for Justice earlier this spring shed light on voter perceptions. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, respondents in their national survey broadly understand corruption as a system where "government primarily works for the ultrawealthy and well-connected and doesn’t prioritize the interests of most voters." Other survey data also suggest that Americans view partisan gerrymandering as a form of corruption because it is seen as obstructing the will of voters.
The portion of respondents in the Brennan Center poll who identified corruption as a major problem was similar to the findings in the Ohio poll conducted by YouGov.
Ohio has experienced its own recent history of corruption, though the September poll did not specifically inquire about these local issues.
With the general election set for November 3, military and overseas absentee voting, as well as early in-person and mail-in voting, have already commenced. The deadline to register to vote has passed, and information on the election calendar is available through the Ohio Secretary of State.
