Fulton County Ohio Media

There are several reasons to hold a special election, one not conducted in the month of November, in the State of Ohio such as the need to fill a sudden or unexpected vacancy of an important position or to vote to recall an elected official.  Elections that do not meet that criteria often fall under the suspicion of being held at a period of historically low voter turnout to improve the passing of a controversial measure.  The motivation behind placing Ohio 2023 Issue 1 on the ballot on August 8, 2023, could not be more obvious.  “Just move along.  Nothing to see here, folks.”

Pulled from the internet is a brief explanation of what the measure entails:

What is Ohio’s Issue 1?

If voters approve Issue 1, future amendments to the Ohio Constitution will need a 60% affirmative vote to pass, rather than the simple majority vote of 50% plus one vote that’s been in place since 1912, according to The Associated Press.

Also, petitioners seeking to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot in Ohio would need to gather signatures from at least 5% of electors in the most recent gubernatorial election in each of Ohio’s 88 counties, rather than just 44 counties.

Issue 1 also eliminates the state’s “curing period” for constitutional amendment petitions, which gives petitioners an extra 10 days to gather additional signatures, if needed.

Supporters of Issue 1 say the measure would protect the Ohio Constitution from special interest groups.

“By raising the threshold for constitutional amendments to 60%, the people will ensure amendments have widespread support and tell special interests that our constitution is not up for grabs,” reads an argument for the proposal signed by state GOP lawmakers. “By requiring signatures from voters in every county, special interest groups will no longer be able to cherry pick where they gather signatures.”

Meanwhile, opponents of Issue 1 say it would end majority rule in the state.

“It means just 40% of voters can block any issue, putting 40% of voters in charge of decision-making for the majority,” reads an argument against the proposal signed by state Democrats. “It would destroy citizen-driven ballot initiatives as we know them, guaranteeing that only wealthy special interests could advance changes to our constitution.”

Though the changes to the signature threshold and curing period would only apply to constitutional amendments proposed after Jan. 1, 2024, the new vote threshold requirement would take effect immediately upon passage — possibly impacting the next general election.

Issue 1 would raise the threshold needed for voters to approve an abortion rights amendment that could appear on the Nov. 7 ballot, which would enshrine access to abortion in Ohio in the state constitution following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade last summer. Petitioners for that amendment last week submitted more than 700,000 signatures to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, which now must be verified by county election boards.

My question is, why not wait until the general election on November 7, 2023?  That is just three months away when voter turnout tends to be the highest.  The State of Missouri has a very similar measure to be decided this year, in November, where it should be.  Having the vote at the peak of vacation season only confirms the mistrust many of us have in politicians and our political system overall.

Currently, two states, Florida and Illinois, require a 60% super majority to amend their constitution.  Ohio and 37 other states require a 50% plus one vote simple majority with the rest lying somewhere in between.  The impact of Issue 1’s approval will have a major impact on the lives of all Ohioans for a long time and we do not deserve to have it “slipped” past us while our attention may be diverted.  Let us all decide.  Or at least most of us.

Photo: Fulton County Sample Ballot