(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Get Your Money's Worth - Ohio Issue 1 [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-07-10 Ohio taxpayers are paying $20 million for a special election to be held on August 8. This, after the Republican controlled Ohio legislature voted in December 2022 to eliminate all special elections. Except of course when they want to further expand their power and control over the voters of Ohio. What other reason could they have to revise provisions in the 1912 Ohio Constitution that guarantee the right of citizens to propose changes to the constitution? Nah, it could have nothing to do with either Abortion Rights, or Gerrymandering! From Columbus, Ohio, Statehouse News Bureau - Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose has pushed for Issue 1, the amendment that would require 60% voter approval for future constitutional changes. He’s said Issue 1 is about stopping an abortion rights amendment this fal l. In his filing in the lawsuit, he argued that House Bill 458, the law passed in December that banned most August special elections, didn’t apply to state lawmakers . He said the constitution gives legislators the power to set elections. Emphasis mine. Surprise, surprise, the rules don't apply to them! We've seen this game too often already including School Funding and Redistricting. Why would we ever consider giving them more control over our voice? They already effectively ignore Ohio voters now! If Issue 1 is approved it will make two significant changes. First, it will require citizens to obtain constitutional amendment petition signatures of a minimum of 5% of voters in ALL 88 Ohio counties, an increase from the 44 counties currently required. Secondly, if a proposed citizen constitutional amendment is placed on the ballot, it will need to be approved by 60% of the voters in order to pass. Currently only 50% approval is needed to pass a citizen initiated amendment. Why an August special election for such a major change to the Ohio constitution? August special elections are notorious for low turnout. The goal is that by bringing this to a vote during a low turnout election it will improve the odds of passing it if they sufficiently motivate their supporters. Another attempt at minority rule. Former Governor Taft and Representative Mike Curtin both stated that a constitutional change of this magnitude should appear during a presidential election year when turnout is high and the voices of a majority of Ohioans would be heard. At a League of Women Voters forum Taft said "I would describe this as perhaps the state leaders trying to game the system for what ever reasons they want to," In addition to Taft, former Ohio governors John Kasich, Dick Celeste, and Ted Strickland have all spoken in opposition to Issue 1. Early voting on Issue 1 begins on Tuesday, July 11. You can vote early in-person, vote by absentee ballot, or vote at your local precinct on election day August 8. Information about early in-person voting locations, date, and times, how to obtain and submit an absentee ballot, or your local voting precinct if you plan to vote in-person on August 8 can all be found at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/. Don't let them steal your right to propose constitutional amendments by using a low turnout election. They say they want to "Protect the Constitution"! They are lying, again! The only thing they want to protect is their power to impose their beliefs and values, such as they may be, on everyone else. No freedom for anyone who thinks differently! For more reasons to vote NO on Issue 1, you can visit Top 5 reasons to Vote NO on Issue 1 on August 8th | ACLU of Ohio (acluohio.org) and All About Issue 1 in August - Common Cause Ohio Please make sure to vote NO on Issue 1! You paid for this “special election” so Get your Money’s Worth! [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/7/10/2180397/-Get-Your-Money-s-Worth-Ohio-Issue-1 Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/