The Case Against Issue #1 – Ohio Sustainable Business Council

Since 1913, Ohioans have had the freedom to participate in direct democracy via grass-roots, petition initiatives that put issues on the ballot for a simple majority of their fellow citizens to approve or disapprove.

In over a hundred years, less than a third of citizen initiatives were passed. Ohio voters have used their power to raise the minimum wage to fund schools and infrastructure, and recently to demand fair districts from a heavily gerrymandered legislature. That struggle is ongoing. And yet now we are told by these same politicians that the voters are abusing the process.

This year voters will choose whether to give their neighbors autonomy over their own bodies. The right to choose their healthcare with their doctor, without the intrusion of the legislature. The proponents of Issue 1 want to defeat the voice of the voters on this issue, so badly that they’re willing to destroy our historical, civic rights to do it.

State Issue 1 would restrict all Ohioans’ right to hold the government accountable by raising the threshold for voters to pass amendments and statutes from 50% to 60% — giving a minority of 41% of voters veto power over anything a majority of Ohioans want.

But it’s not just about that percentage. Issue 1 also increases signature requirements from 44 counties to all 88 counties and eliminates the 10 day period to submit extra signatures, placing even more hurdles in front of citizens, just to get an issue on the ballot for a vote.

Let’s be clear, Issue 1 does nothing to check legislator power to put issues on the ballot nor does it prevent political corruption from well-funded out of state interests from paying to gather signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Issue 1 only puts roadblocks in front of voter-led initiatives that are often small organizations.

By asking voters to pass State Issue 1, Ohio Republicans are asking a majority of voters to shred the people’s authority over our constitution. Issue 1 will make citizen-initiative ballot requirements so restrictive that only the most wealthy special interests will have the resources to participate in the process. This is unacceptable.

We urge everyone to Vote NO on Issue 1.

Early voting has begun. Check your county board of elections or vote.ohio.gov for the latest information and make your voice heard.

This graphic below illustrates the changes. Passage of Issue 1 will make it harder for citizens and small groups to propose an issue to the ballot. Big interests already have the money to influence legislators and fund issue campaigns. It is regular citizens that will have tougher hurdles to get an issue before the voters, especially those that rein in corruption by the powerful.