COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio voters will decide on a constitutional amendment on August 8 that would make it more difficult to amend the state constitution.
The amendment, Issue 1, would require a 60% vote for voters to approve a constitutional amendment, whether citizen-initiated or from the General Assembly. Currently, a constitutional amendment requires a simple majority vote (50% plus one) to be approved in Ohio.
The amendment would also require campaigns for initiated constitutional amendments to collect signatures from each of the state’s 88 counties, an increase from the current requirement of 50% of the state’s 88 counties. Campaigns need to collect a number of signatures equal to 5% of the vote in the last governor’s election in each of the counties. This is known as a signature distribution requirement.
The amendment was proposed by the Ohio State Legislature and is being supported by a number of Republican organizations, including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Farm Bureau, and Buckeye Firearms Association.
Opponents of the amendment, including the Ohio AFL-CIO and Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom, say it would make it too difficult for ordinary citizens to change the state constitution.
The amendment is expected to be a close vote. A recent poll found that 48% of likely voters support the amendment, while 42% oppose it.
What would happen if Issue 1 passes?
If Issue 1 passes, it would make it more difficult to amend the Ohio Constitution. This would mean that it would take a larger majority of voters to approve a constitutional amendment and that campaigns would need to collect more signatures from a wider range of counties.
This could make it more difficult for ordinary citizens to change the state constitution, as they would need to gather more support from voters and from across the state. It could also make it more difficult for interest groups to get their preferred constitutional amendments on the ballot.
What would happen if Issue 1 fails?
If Issue 1 fails, the current rules for amending the Ohio Constitution would remain in place. This means that a simple majority of voters would still be required to approve a constitutional amendment and that campaigns would still only need to collect signatures from 50% of the state’s counties.
This would make it easier for ordinary citizens to change the state constitution, as they would not need to gather as much support from voters or from across the state. It would also make it easier for interest groups to get their preferred constitutional amendments on the ballot.
What are the arguments for and against Issue 1?
Supporters of Issue 1 argue that it would make the Ohio Constitution more stable and difficult to change. They say that this would protect the Constitution from being changed by special interests or by a small group of voters.
Opponents of Issue 1 argue that it would make it too difficult for ordinary citizens to change the state constitution. They say that this would disenfranchise voters and make it more difficult for them to have a say in how the state is governed.
What is the next step?
The next step is for voters to decide on Issue 1 on August 8. If the amendment passes, it would take effect immediately. If it fails, the current rules for amending the Ohio Constitution would remain in place.