Ohio has gone through four constitutional conventions, the most recent being 1912. Other supporters include conservative-leaning organizations such as the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Right to Life. Im not writing this letter to address the ballot issue in November, but to discuss misinformation concerning Issue 1 this August. General Assembly Initiated Constitutional Amendment - Ohio Secretary of Meanwhile, state lawmakers could change or repeal an initiated statute whenever they want without going back to voters. X logo on Twitter building sparks investigation, Ohio Constitution question aimed at thwarting abortion rights push heads to August ballot, Drama plagues bid to restrict changes to Ohio Constitution, Abortion rights groups submit 2023 ballot measure in Ohio. Those were many of the concerns anti-abortion advocates had about Michigans proposal. Amendments for veterans bonuses have been overwhelmingly popular, but in the last five decades voters approved four bond measures with less than a 60% vote, including: 1982 -- Housing assistance for persons 62 and older for owner-occupied single-family homes (57.4%). The proposed measure would add language to the Ohio Constitution explicitly guaranteeing the right of every individual to make and carry out ones own reproductive decisions. Although it allows for prohibitions on abortion after viability, there are broad exceptions to protect the patients life or health.. Probably not, he told host Bob Frantz on Always Right Radio. But, Baer said, when talking to conservative audiences, were hitting the life issue hard because it really exemplifies why you have to be fired up and go vote.. Lawmakers have sent 156 amendments to the ballot since 1913, while 71 were citizen-initiated. They include: Going a little further back in history, here are a few of the 117 amendments in state history that have gotten more than 60% of the vote: Heres a chart detailing all constitutional amendment votes since 2000: Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. "Its a jewel in the crown of direct democracy in Ohio and yet as popular as it was, it didnt get to 60," he said. 1997) Amendment. "The Republicans who are backing this issue are forced into selling an 'eat your peas' message," Niven said. As voters rejected the amendment, the constitution remained unaltered. All rights reserved. Constitutional amendments also are required in certain cases, like borrowing more than $750,000 because of constitutional limits on state debts, or for making changes to processes laid out in the constitution, like redistricting rules. The rest require a simple majority, although a few have special stipulations. Those numbers include amendments proposed by the Legislature and citizens. Vote yes on Issue 1 in August Ohio's future depends on it. Despite supporters claims that an August ballot proposal raising Ohios threshold for passing constitutional amendments wasnt about abortion, a surge of political messaging urging a yes vote has skewed in that direction. Issue 1 is opposed by unions, the Fraternal Order of Police and abortion rights advocates,among hundreds of other organizations. Looking to have some serious fun in Taipei? To illustrate: in 1857 the General Assembly proposed an amendment to give the General Assembly greater control over corporations. The court's Democratic justices dissented from the decision, saying the Legislature can't flout the laws it creates. However, they insisted it had nothing to do with thwarting that measure. Ryan Byrne is a managing editor at Ballotpedia. Senate Joint Resolution 2, nicknamed the Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment, was originally spearheaded by Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Asheville), who said the 60% threshold will protect the state . It says it would protect an individual's reproductive decisions. Ohio voters have approved 127 of the 227 amendments placed on the ballot since 1913. Nearly 60% of Ohio voters oppose an August ballot measure that would make it harder to change the constitution, according to a new poll. Ohio is one of 16 states that allows citizens to take amendments directly to the ballot, according to theNational Conference of State Legislatures. 2000 -- Conservation and preservation of natural areas, farmlands, parks and recreation facilities, and for the revitalization of contaminated lands (57.4%). Ohio Issue 1 is the first constitutional amendment on the state's It closes with a caption: Keep Republicans Out of Your Bedroom. 60% approval would protect Ohio's constitution | Opinion Voters have approved 127 of the 227 amendments placed on the ballot since 1913. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced Tuesday that organizers submitted enough valid signatures to put an amendment on the November ballot to enshrine abortion rights in the . To remedy this, they recommended that all amendments (whether proposed by constitutional conventions, citizen-petitions or the General Assembly) would be approved if there were more yes than no votes on the specific amendment. The issue is complicated and controversial, and groups on both sides of the fight are working to sell their pitch to voters. The 60% threshold would apply to amendments proposed by citizens and the Legislature. Its strange how this format to amend the state constitution has been in place for 111 years, but now Ohios Constitution is under attack by outside influence. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. This constitution was difficult to amend but capable of growth. (July 24). 1978 -- To modernize provisions regulating prison labor (58.2%). A 2000 vote creating the Clean Ohio Fund authorizing the state to sell environmental conservation bonds (57%), A 2005 vote borrowing money to create the Third Frontier economic development program aimed at modernizing the states economy (54%) and. Since 2000, two citizen-proposed amendments passed with less than 60% of the vote. The Associated Pressreceives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. But he had a different tone at a Seneca County dinner for Lincoln Day in May, when he said that the August measure is 100% about keeping a radical, pro-abortion amendment out of our constitution. In an Associated Press interview, LaRose said that comment now featured in ads around the state was clipped from a lengthy speech and taken out of context. to make and carry out ones own reproductive decisions, anti-abortion advocates had about Michigans proposal, ACLUs history of fighting parental consent, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. How hard is it to amend Ohio's constitution? How do other states do it Votes totaled 587,055 on the constitutional amendment, which appeared before voters on Aug. 10, 1926. So, what about the more controversial issues like abortion? Voters approved 161 (59.85%) and rejected 108 (40.15%) of the proposed constitutional amendments from 1912 to 2022. In 1926, voters addressed one constitutional amendment, which was rejected 39.99% to 60.01%. Those wont take effect until 2024. Ohioans overwhelmingly voted to set the lower threshold in 1912, in a Progressive-era response to rampant political corruption. The strongest opposition comes from voters in the Cleveland and Cincinnati areas, but over half of voters in all five regions of the state are against the ballot proposal. The amendment was intentionally written using this extremely broad language, says Amy Natoce, press secretary for Protect Women Ohio, the group seeking to block the amendments passage. Because Issue 1 applies its 60% threshold to amendments proposed by the General Assembly, this change, if it had applied in the past, would have hindered the development of the state and the efficiency of state government. An Ohio constitutional convention was held in 1912 and proposed substantial revisions to the 1851 constitution, many of which were approved. That law hasnt taken effect yet because it's still tied up in the courts. They are: Read more on this subject here. Nearly 60% of Ohio voters oppose an August ballot measure that would make it harder to change the constitution . A chart below will explain these state-by-state rules. ___ Swenson reported from Seattle. Ohios constitution is caught in a tug-of-war. Are you wondering what the facts are when it comes to how Ohio measures up? ", What Ohioans need to know about the August election on Issue 1, Poll worker recruitment picks up, despite early concerns of shortage, Want to vote by mail in Ohio's August election? One of the weaknesses of Ohios constitution, on the other hand, is that currently it is far too easy to amend. While Democrats in Congress are turning to desperate, long-shot measures like reviving the Equal Rights Amendment to preserve abortion access, abortion rights activists are gearing up for a new line of attack one that could sidestep Republican legislatures and governors. Its up to us to protect and defend our state constitution by raising the threshold for ratification. Key election dates and deadlines are listedhere. One is through a constitutional amendment. July 25, 2023. The state will hold an Aug. 8 special election on Issue 1, a proposal that would change the rules . Seventy-six of them got at least 60% of the vote, such as: Critics of Issue 1 point to past bond issues that didn't reach 60% and say raising the threshold could stymie future funding needs. The 1926 constitutional amendment addressed tax assessments on properties benefiting from a public improvement project. Were seeing special sessions, were seeing anti-abortion bills passed in the dead of night, and were seeing these denials from those who are pushing a measure that is designed to undercut democracy with the intention of hurting Ohios abortion measure.. Opponents of state Issue 1 flood the rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse to protest the issue that would make it more difficult to pass a constitutional amendment in the state. The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission, established in 2011, debated whether to change the initiated statute process and increase the passage requirement for amendments to 55% of the vote. Some of the key groups advocating for and against Issue 1 fall along party lines. Amendments protecting access to abortion in other states have typically passed but with less than 60% of the vote. enough valid signatures to get the measure on the ballot, backed the successful constitutional amendment in Michigan, a decades-old abortion law that banned nearly all abortions take effect, the amendment went much further than that. The different roles played by state and federal constitutions largely explain why the former are always longer and easier to amend than the federal constitution. Twenty-six percent back the issue, while 17% are . Starting next year, it also would double the number of counties where signatures must be gathered, from 44 to all 88, and do away with the 10-day grace period for closing gaps in the total valid signatures submitted. Well-healed, far-left special interest groups including the ACLU are keenly aware of our state constitutions current vulnerability and intend to exploit it. A few amendments that were passed included: Eight-hour work day for public works employees, organization for boards of education, laws regarding the welfare of employees, such as minimum wage and work hours, and workers compensation system. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The amendments language is so broad that it would even jeopardize basic health and safety protections for women seeking abortions. As of right now, both require a 50% majority in a statewide vote to pass. Whats happening in Ohio is a little different. Ohio will vote August 8 on a measure to make it harder for voters to amend the state constitution. The measure would establish "a fundamental right to reproductive freedom" with "reasonable limits." In language similar to a constitutional amendment that Michigan voters approved last . With an effort to enshrine abortion rights looming this fall, an influential mix of Republican politicians, lobbying organizations and business interests is working to make another change to the states founding document first. According to The Coshocton Tribune, there were about 3.4 million eligible voters in Ohio in 1926, meaning turnout on the constitutional amendment was around 17.05%. ProPublica and The Columbus Dispatch have reported that Illinois billionaire Dick Uihlein has poured millions into Save Our Constitution PAC ads to vote yes on Issue 1. (1851, am. Note: The table describing amendments that passed with 50%-60% support was corrected to accurately reflect the results of proposed amendments in the May 1973 election. That includes the amendment abortion-rights advocates are pursuing for the November election. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Steven H. Steinglass is Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus at the Cleveland State University College of Law. Mark Caleb Smith, a political science professor at southwest Ohios Cedarville University, said abortion is emotionally charged and easy to understand and can therefore engage Ohioans to donate, volunteer and vote when they otherwise wouldnt bother with an off-season election about something as esoteric as how to amend the states constitution. That could make it more challenging to pass the amendment come November. Last Name. Amendment drafters, led by the ACLU, are disregarding the immense human suffering that comes with their proposal and committing a tragic human rights abuse by advancing their permissive abortion agenda.

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