Posted on Aug 8, 2023
How many voters does it take to make a majority? Why Ohio's Issue 1 is controversial
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https://www.npr.org/2023/08/08/ [login to see] /ohio-issue-1-ballot-special-election-abortion-constitutional-amendment
Voters head to the polls Tuesday for a special election over Issue 1, a ballot measure which seeks to raise the threshold for voter approval of amendments to Ohio's constitution.
If passed, the measure would require 60% approval to pass future constitutional amendments, up from the current simple majority requirement that has been Ohio's standard since 1912.
Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who proposed the measure, said it's about keeping wealthy out-of-state special interests out of Ohio's founding document.
"We're talking about amending the Constitution probably for the rest of our lifetimes," said LaRose. "That should be taken very seriously."
Opponents of the referendum suspect the timing is designed to thwart a constitutional amendment coming up on the November ballot — one that would enshrine the reproductive rights in the state constitution.
Voters head to the polls Tuesday for a special election over Issue 1, a ballot measure which seeks to raise the threshold for voter approval of amendments to Ohio's constitution.
If passed, the measure would require 60% approval to pass future constitutional amendments, up from the current simple majority requirement that has been Ohio's standard since 1912.
Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who proposed the measure, said it's about keeping wealthy out-of-state special interests out of Ohio's founding document.
"We're talking about amending the Constitution probably for the rest of our lifetimes," said LaRose. "That should be taken very seriously."
Opponents of the referendum suspect the timing is designed to thwart a constitutional amendment coming up on the November ballot — one that would enshrine the reproductive rights in the state constitution.
How many voters does it take to make a majority? Why Ohio's Issue 1 is controversial
Posted from npr.org
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Posted 9 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Controversial referendum draws national attention
The coalition for Issue 1 is primarily anti-abortion organizations, gun rights groups and the state's major business groups concerned about a coming minimum wage amendment.
The opposition includes union groups, abortion rights and gun law reform groups, Ohio's four living ex-governors and five former attorneys general from both parties.
Democratic former state Rep. Mike Curtin has been one of the leading voices against Issue 1.
"It was a rush job on a monumental question, shifting a 111-year-old right that Ohioans have had to amend their state constitution to making it darn near impossible to do so with a 60% threshold," Curtin said.
Despite the timing, in the middle of August vacation season when turn out is typically low, Ohioans have shown up for early voting. Long lines have been reported in some counties, and an ad blitz on both sides of the issue has totaled around $22 million, with nearly all of that money coming from outside Ohio.
Issue 1 is the only item on the ballot Tuesday."
..."Controversial referendum draws national attention
The coalition for Issue 1 is primarily anti-abortion organizations, gun rights groups and the state's major business groups concerned about a coming minimum wage amendment.
The opposition includes union groups, abortion rights and gun law reform groups, Ohio's four living ex-governors and five former attorneys general from both parties.
Democratic former state Rep. Mike Curtin has been one of the leading voices against Issue 1.
"It was a rush job on a monumental question, shifting a 111-year-old right that Ohioans have had to amend their state constitution to making it darn near impossible to do so with a 60% threshold," Curtin said.
Despite the timing, in the middle of August vacation season when turn out is typically low, Ohioans have shown up for early voting. Long lines have been reported in some counties, and an ad blitz on both sides of the issue has totaled around $22 million, with nearly all of that money coming from outside Ohio.
Issue 1 is the only item on the ballot Tuesday."
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