The League of Women Voters of Ohio and Marion County’s police union opposed a state issue that would overhaul Ohio’s constitution amendment process.
Ohio Issue 1, if passed in an Aug. 8 special election, would require “that any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio receive the approval of at least 60 percent of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment.” Constitutional amendments in Ohio require a simple majority (50.01%).
The amendment requires “that any initiative petition filed on or after Jan. 1, 2024 with the Secretary of State proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio be signed by at least five percent of the eligible voters of each county in the state.”
The language still disappoints us. “It’s still not what we want,” Miller remarked. The Ballot Board must write impartial wording. We still think this language fails.”
Miller added that many Ohioans don’t know how to modify the state Constitution. It’s not on the ballot.
“They won’t understand that right now simple majority can pass a constitutional amendment and (Issue 1) is changing it to 60% (voter approval needed),” Miller said. Ohioans need background to judge if they like the topic. That’s disappointing.”
Issue 1: pro or con?
All Marion County Ohio General Assembly members support Issue 1. Sen. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, supported Senate Joint Resolution 2, which sought the amendment, and Senate Bill 92, which authorized and funded the August special election.
“The Constitution is not a policy document. “Amending it should be harder than statute,” Reineke remarked. “In the interest of good governance, the threshold for changing our founding document should be 60%.”
In May, R-Marysville Rep. Tracy Richardson supported the proposal on the House floor.
“Ohioans need a strong framework, a supreme law that is immune to political agendas. “Our vote on this resolution sends a message that changing our constitution is so important that it should have the commitment and support of 60% rather than 50% plus one of our electorate,” added Richardson. I’ll add that our constituents will vote on this move in August.
Rep. Riordan McClain, R-Upper Sandusky, hopes Issue 1 passes in August.
“I supported putting it on the ballot five years ago, last November, this May, and now I support giving Ohio voters the choice at the ballot in August,” McClain stated. “Our state constitution is a foundational document, not a policy battlefield. The Ohio Constitution has been revised 172 times, compared to 27 times in 234 years for the U.S.
Republican leaders Gov. Mike DeWine, Senate President Matt Huffman, House Speaker Jason Stephens, and Sec. of State Frank LaRose support the proposal.
Former attorneys general Richard Cordray and Lee Fisher and former governors John Kasich, Bob Taft, and Ted Strickland have opposed Issue 1. Former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor opposes the proposal.