Columbus, OH — Today, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Representative Brian Stewart (OH-78) announced an effort to restrict Ohioans’ power to pass constitutional amendments through the ballot initiative process: the “Ohio Constitution Protection” Amendment. It does not protect the Ohio Constitution. Specifically, the proposal would require citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to reach a 60% vote threshold to pass, rather than the current 50% threshold—but only for citizen-initiated amendments, not amendments proposed by the General Assembly.
Ohioans have a long history of passing forward-thinking constitutional amendments through the ballot initiative process—including our most recent demands for fair redistricting in 2015 and 2018.
The Ohio Constitution represents the ultimate will of Ohioans for how their government should operate—as well as the rights guaranteed to the people and other important policies enshrined out of reach of the whims of the Ohio General Assembly. Thus, the OEC Action Fund unequivocally opposes this proposed amendment. We stand ready beside all democracy advocates to fight this restrictive policy if it heads to the ballot. We should be promoting and improving the strengths of our democratic systems and making it easier for Ohioans to participate, not harder.
The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Chris Tavenor, Managing Director of Democracy Policy and Associate General Counsel for the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund:
“To ensure a healthy environment for all who call Ohio home, we must create and sustain a healthy democracy for all our people, too. The “Ohio Constitution Protection” Amendment follows an insidious trend in Ohio politics—a consistent effort to suppress the power of the people to participate fully in our democratic systems. The proposed amendment illustrates how these leaders fear the power of Ohioans to decide policy for themselves.”
“We know Ohioans will see this proposed amendment for what it truly is: a power grab. An attempt to silence Ohioans at the polls. An affront to our democracy. We urge all Ohioans and every organization to stand against this amendment, an amendment that mars the Ohio Constitution, rather than protects it.”
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The Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund, a 501c4 organization, seeks to protect and enhance the environment, economic viability, and health of all Ohio communities by expanding access to public lands, advancing critical environmental priorities, holding policy makers accountable, and electing environmental champions.
CONTACT:
Marisa Twigg, OEC Action Fund
mtwigg@theoec.org or 614-487-5837