Ohio Democrats have said they are adamantly against Ohio State Issue 1, which tries to change the percentage needed to amend the state Constitution by a statewide ballot initiative to a supermajority of 60 percent from the current 50 percent plus one.
However, their opposition is inconsistent, as their party constitution uses a 60 percent amendment threshold.
Article Four of the Ohio Democratic Party Constitution and By-Laws from 2021, which discusses constitutional amendments, says, “This Constitution may be amended by sixty percent of all delegates to any Convention.”
According to State Representative Brian Stewart (R-Ashville), it’s laughable that Ohio Democrats say they are against a 60 percent threshold when that idea is in their own constitution.
“The Ohio Democrats are totally against a 60 percent threshold for amending Ohio’s Constitution because it’s an idea that only belongs…in their very own constitution. Seriously,” Stewart said.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose questioned if the Ohio Democrats think a 60 percent threshold is good enough to protect their party constitution then why isn’t it good enough to protect the state constitution.
“Hey Ohio Democrats, looks like 60 percent is a good idea to protect your party constitution…when should we be expecting your endorsement of Issue 1?” LaRose said.
Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou said that even Democrats know that allowing special interest amendments to any foundational document is bad policy.
“You can’t make this up. Even the Ohio Democrats know that allowing rash, special interest amendments to ANY organization’s foundational document is bad policy. This is why they, and every pundit and media talking head in Ohio, should ENDORSE Issue 1. We should have debates on policy. But on protecting the state constitution, there is only ONE answer—a YES on Issue 1!” Triantafilou said.
Issue 1, if approved by voters, would 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.
Democrats argue that Issue 1 “would destroy citizen-driven ballot initiatives as we know them, upending our right to make decisions that directly impact our lives.”
They assert that Issue 1 would put 40 percent of voters in charge of decision-making for the majority, would permanently undo constitutional protections that have been in place for over 100 years, would destroy citizen-driven ballot initiatives as we know them, and will apply to every single amendment on any issue Ohioans will ever vote on.
The Democratic-backed group One Person One Vote has also filed a lawsuit against Issue 1 and the August special election on the grounds that the resolution is unconstitutional and illegal. Through the attorney general’s office, LaRose 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-sum voting.
Republicans argue that “Issue 1 protects our Constitution from deep-pocketed, out-of-state interests. By passing Issue 1, the people will ensure constitutional changes are widely accepted and declare that Ohio’s Constitution is not for sale.”
They claim that Issue 1 will ensure that amendments have widespread support and tell special interests that the state Constitution is not up for grabs, by requiring signatures from voters in every county, special interests will no longer be able to cherry-pick where they gather signatures, and by restricting the do-overs on signature submissions special interests will have only once chance to play by the rules.
Voters will decide whether to approve State Issue 1 during a statewide special election on August 8th.
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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]
