Opponents of Issue 1 set to go before the voters in August held a press conference Tuesday to make their case.
LIMA — A special election in August could have lasting implications for all future elections in Ohio.
Issue 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment that hopes to increase the number of Ohio voters needed to make a change to the Constitution. Currently, a simple majority of “50% plus one” vote is needed to make the change. In August, voters will decide to increase the needed majority to 60% or allow it to remain the same.
A local coalition of opponents of the ballot issue held a press conference Tuesday morning to discuss the upcoming election.
“In Ohio, we all win the freedom to make decisions that affect our daily lives and valid issues give citizens the freedom to make laws when politicians fail us,” League of Women Voters of Ohio Executive Director Jen Miller said. “Ballot initiatives have improved the daily lives of Ohioans living in each of our 88 counties. Ohio voters have approved war pensions for veterans and funded school construction. We are voting no on Aug. 8 because issue one permanently would shred our ability to adopt constitutional amendments, which is a document for and by the people.”
Miller also said the League of Women Voters plans to travel across the state to share the same message. Laborer’s Local 329 Business Manager Chris Rader weighed in on the issue as well.
“For more than 110 years, Ohio voters have had the freedom and right to put constitutional amendments directly on the ballot with a simple majority vote 50% plus one vote,” Rader said. “We need to preserve the sacred principle of one person and one vote. As a veteran, I can tell you with 100% certainty that Ohio Issue 1 is a threat to democracy. We’ll fight for our rights in Ohio because we cherish our voice, the voice of a working class across Ohio.”
Ohio Rep. Susan Manchester, R-Waynesfield, has come out in favor of the ballot issue, saying she was one of the legislators pushing to get the issue in front of the voters in August because she believes that a simple majority can be too easily obtained by outside interests looking to sway an election.
“I pushed to make this happen because I strongly believe in defending [and] protecting our Constitution,” she wrote in a May 19 Twitter post. “[Ohio] is one of the easiest states for any special interest to amend the Constitution. It shouldn’t be this way.”
There is an important election happening on August 8th. I pushed to make this happen because I strongly believe in defending & protecting our Constitution. OH is one of the easiest states for any special interest to amend the constitution. It shouldn’t be this way. pic.twitter.com/qGkQ4dcrla
— Susan Manchester (@SusanManchester) May 19, 2023
An argument in favor of Issue 1 posted on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website echoed Manchester’s sentiments.
“Ohio is one of the few states that allow these interests to directly enshrine their social preferences and corporate motives into the Constitution at the same threshold as everyday laws,” the argument read. “Common sense tells us that this should not be the case. Instead, our constitutional rights should be broadly supported and shielded from well-financed special interests.”
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
