The Ohio Ballot Board adopted ballot language on a question that aims to alter the process of how initiative petitions can propose constitutional amendments for a special election this August.
In a 3-2 vote on Thursday, the ballot board has voted to adopt the summary language of Issue 1, the amendment to mandate a 60 percent approval percentage for any future constitutional amendments, call for signatures from all 88 counties, and do away with the opportunity to “cure” petitions by collecting additional signatures if necessary.
Ohio Secretary of State and Chairman of the Ballot Board Frank LaRose said that the “sole purpose” of the Ballot Board was only to prescribe the language and adopt the ballot language and explanations for the proposed constitutional amendment not to “debate the merits of the issue.”
Attorney Don McTigue representing the Democratic-backed group One Person One Vote, a coalition in opposition to the constitutional amendment, voiced dissatisfaction to the board with several portions of the resolution’s language.
According to McTigue, the amendment’s title “Elevating The Standards To Qualify For And To Pass Any Constitutional Amendment” provides a favorable meaning that could influence voters.
McTigue also told the board that it’s important to inform the voters that the current standard for approving a constitutional amendment is a simple majority. He also noted that the language should have explained that currently petition signatures are only required from 44 counties.
“It’s important that they be informed of what the actual change is,” McTigue said.
Democrats on the ballot board also raised concerns about the language calling it “undemocratic, unpopular, and unfair” but they did not propose any changes to the amendment.
LaRose defended the title of the amendment saying that “elevating” is not an influential term but according to the Webster’s dictionary means to raise or increase.
LaRose also stated that he is aware that the current requirements for an initiative petition for a proposed constitutional amendment are not in the ballot language but he noted that it’s important that the summary of the amendment that the voters see on election day be concise and that voters will have opportunities to educate themselves on current standards prior to election day.
“Putting a ton of words on the actual ballot is confusing to people in and of itself. So we provide an explanation of what’s changing. We didn’t provide an explanation of what it currently is. We provided an explanation of what would be new if this were to pass and we believe it is going to be sufficient,” Secretary LaRose said.
Secretary LaRose has already directed Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections to begin preparations for an August 8th statewide special election.
Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou said “If the Ohio Constitution is amended, it should require more than a simple majority to ensure the issues are widely popular, highly vetted, and clearly in the best interest of the vast majority of Ohioans.”
“By voting yes on August 8, Ohioans will be protecting our Constitution from special interests for generations to come, while still preserving the people’s important role in governing our state,” Triantafilou said.
One Person One Vote has filed a lawsuit against Issue 1 and the August special election on the grounds that the resolution is unconstitutional and illegal. LaRose, through the Attorney General’s office, has asked the Ohio Supreme Court to throw out the lawsuit rejecting the coalition’s arguments that the state acted unlawfully by approving an August election just months after the Legislature passed a bill to remove most of the late-summer voting.
The ballot question comes at a time when pro-abortion activists are working to pass a proposed constitutional amendment in November that would legalize abortion throughout the state.
A second proposed amendment that would eventually raise the state’s minimum wage will likely appear on a 2024 ballot.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Frank LaRose” by Ohio Secretary of State. Background Photo “Election Day 2020” by Phil Roeder. CC BY 2.0.
