Important Upcoming Election Information

Examining the proposed issues for the August and November Elections

Jun 08, 2023

What is on the ballot for the August 8th Special Election?

Issue 1 will be the only issue on the ballot for the August 8th Special Election. Issue 1 is proposed by the General Assembly (Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate). It asks Ohio voters whether they want to make a rule that any changes to the Ohio State Constitution must be approved by at least 60% of eligible voters who show up at the polls to vote.

Currently, changes to Ohio’s Constitution can be made by barely a majority of eligible voters (50% +1). This rule would apply to amendments proposed by the Ohio General Assembly and those initiated by citizens through a petition process.

Why Raise the Threshold to 60%?

Many organizations, including the United States government, require a higher percentage of votes to make important changes to their Constitution. For instance, they might ask for a three-fifths (60%), two-thirds (67%), or three-quarters (75%) majority. The reason behind this is to ensure that decisions are not made by just a slim majority, but by a larger majority that respects different perspectives.

For example, in order to change the United States Constitution, the proposed amendment must first be approved by a two-thirds (67%) majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Afterward, the amendment needs to be ratified by at least three-fourths (or 38) of the 50 states. This process ensures that a significant number of votes, involving both federal legislators and state governments, are required to make changes to the Constitution.

Setting higher thresholds for making changes to the Constitution ensures that decisions are not taken lightly and that viewpoints of both the majority and the minority are taken into consideration. It emphasizes the importance of having broader support and consensus when making significant alterations to the Constitution.

Precedent

In Ohio, the state government can put proposed amendments to the Ohio Constitution on the ballot if they are approved by a three-fifths (60%) majority in the Ohio General Assembly. This means that the state government currently gives more importance to the opinions of the minority by requiring a higher approval threshold compared to the process of citizen-led ballot initiatives, which only requires a 50% + 1 majority.

Why Should Ohio Voters be Concerned?

The ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and other influential special interest groups from outside Ohio are actively promoting a significant expansion of abortion and the removal of parental rights through their proposed Reproductive Rights Amendment. Their goal is to get this controversial amendment included on the November ballot. However, many parents are deeply concerned about the language used in this amendment, describing it as a "worst nightmare" scenario.

What Will it Mean if the November Ballot Initiative Passes?

Virtually all restrictions on abortion and other procedures, including sex-change surgeries for minors will be eliminated.

Parental-consent laws and notification requirements for minors' abortions or sex-change surgeries would be canceled out.

Health protections for people of all ages, including the requirement for qualified physicians, would be struck down.

Grants school nurses the ability to refer children/teens for sex changes or abortions without parental knowledge or consent.

Makes Ohio a "no-limit" abortion state, stripping away all protections for the unborn & allows for painful late-term abortions up through nine months.
Potentially create a legal foundation for taking children away from their parents if they interfere with their child's decisions regarding gender identity or reproductive matters.

It's important to note that this initiative is happening during an off-year election cycle in 2023 when voter turnout is typically low. In these elections, only around 10% of regular voters participate, which means that a small percentage, as little as 5% of all voters, could end up changing the Ohio Constitution for everyone in the state.

How does the August election relate to the November election?

If voters decide to vote in favor of raising the threshold to change Ohio's Constitution from 50% + 1 to 60% on August 8th, it will create a major obstacle for activists who want to remove parental rights, establish unrestricted abortion access, and undermine constitutional values through the proposed Reproductive Rights Amendment in November.