Here's Why Ohioans Should VOTE YES on Issue 1 for the August 8 Special Election

On August 8, 2023, Ohioans will decide during a special election whether or not to raise the standard for amending the State Constitution.

Issue 1 is a heated topic, and with the electorate parroting their party's talking points, undecided voters are confused by the muddied waters.

If you're on the fence about Issue 1, the best way to make an informed decision is to read the proposed amendment, familiarize yourself with the best arguments from both sides, look at the big picture, and use common sense.

How Is Issue 1 Worded on the Ballot?

When you read articles about Issue 1 or engage with others online in discussion threads, you'll find that people are making arguments based on emotionalism, not facts.

No one should rely on someone else's interpretation or be subjected to fear-mongering when it comes to understanding Issue 1.

Let's take a look at how Issue 1 is worded on the ballot:

Issue 1 is not ambiguous.  The measure consists of three straightforward points:

• Amending the Ohio Constitution would require a 60% supermajority.

• To get a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot, petitions must be signed by 5% of the electors from all 88 counties (not just the current 44).

• Issue 1 eliminates the 10-day cure period that allows petitioners to gather more signatures after filing with the Secretary of State, should they fall short of the required number of signatures during the verification process.  

We will examine each of these points in more detail, but to read the entire proposed amendment for yourself, click here.  

Issue 1 Would Require a 60% Supermajority to Amend Ohio's Constitution

Opponents of Issue 1 argue that it would end majority rule, citing that 40% of the voting population would make decisions for the other 60%.  This camp chants, "One person, one vote," claiming that the passage of Issue 1 would end democracy.

This claim is totally false.

This widely shared graphic by opponents of Issue 1 is completely inaccurate.  Issue 1 is about amending the state constitution NOT voting on legislative issues.

First, the USA is not a democracy--it's a constitutional republic, and the terms are not interchangeable.  Pure democracies usher in tyranny, which is why our founders avoided modeling the USA after one.  Think of a democracy this way:  51% of the wolves and 49% of the sheep get to decide what's for dinner.

In a pure democracy, the majority has the right to take away the rights of the minority just because they are the majority.  Our founders wanted a form of government where every voice was heard and represented.  A pure democracy does not include a balance of power.  As Plato said, "Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy," because "leaders" will fight for unchecked power and control.  

Consider this:  the US Constitution has only been amended 27 times in our nation's history.  Our founders intentionally made the process difficult to protect our freedoms.  Amending the US Constitution requires a 2/3 majority in each house of Congress and a concurrence of 3/4 of the legislatures from all 50 states.  

Currently, Ohio's constitution only requires a 50% plus 1 vote to amend it.  As a result, it has been tampered with 172 times.  It is far too easy to amend, which makes it vulnerable to political debauchery.  

Requiring a 60% supermajority to amend our state constitution remains far below the rigorous threshold that our US Constitution requires.  Our founders knew what they were doing, and their wisdom has preserved our freedoms for more than 230 years.  The rights of Ohioans are at stake, and requiring a 60% supermajority to amend our state constitution would provide a much-needed layer of protection.

Issue 1 Would Give More Ohioans a Voice

Currently, petition signatures are only required from 44 counties to get an amendment on the ballot.  Issue 1 would require signatures to be collected from 5% of electors in all 88 counties.

The change would ensure that proposed amendments have widespread support.

As it stands, private interest groups can cherry pick signatures from counties that support their agenda.  This disenfranchises half the state!  

Opponents of Issue 1 argue that even if signatures are only collected in 44 states, all 88 still vote on the amendment in November.  What they don't admit is that special interest groups with deep pockets--usually from outside Ohio--manipulate the system and politicians to "buy" votes.  This means with the current structure of a 50% plus 1 simple majority to pass a proposed amendment, it's easy to swing an election in a way that does not represent the true will of the people.

Think of an issue that you are passionate about.  Now, imagine that an amendment is being proposed on that issue that is diametrically opposed to your stance.  Your county is not one of the 44 petitioned for signatures.  After being financed by out-of-state special interest groups, the proposed amendment makes it on the ballot.  Again, funds are channeled from big donors outside of Ohio to all the largest cities with the highest populations on board with the agenda to get the measure passed by the 50% plus 1 simple majority.  Overnight, your rights could be eliminated, and half of Ohio never had a say about getting the amendment on the ballot in the first place.  

Opponents argue that the passage of Issue 1 would make it impossible for proposed amendments to ever make it to the ballot because a lack of signatures in one county could block the other 87.  If anyone is truly passionate about proposing an amendment, garnering signatures from a mere 5% of the electorate in each county is a low bar and could be easily accomplished.  

Issue 1 Protects Election Integrity

Whether you think Biden won the 2020 election or not, it's crystal clear that election interference presented a clear and present danger to our republic.  Voting machines generated significant errors, Big Tech censored conservative speech, it took several days to tabulate votes, boxes of ballots were mysteriously "found," windows were boarded up at election sights during the tabulating process, footage was taken of the same ballots being counted multiple times, state legislatures overstepped their authority--all of this called into question the integrity of our election system.

To tamper-proof Ohio's elections, Issue 1 eliminates the 10-day cure period.  What does this mean?  It means that those petitioning for signatures to support a proposed amendment better make sure they have ample support.  Once the signatures are filed with the Secretary of State, that's it--there are no "do-overs."  If the verification process finds enough signatures to be invalid and the number of signatures falls below the required amount, petitioners won't be granted a 10-day extension to solicit additional signatures.  This stipulation will further safeguard Ohio elections from fraudulent activity because everyone will have one chance to play by the rules.

Don't Confuse Amendments with Legislation

Opponents of Issue 1 are trying to scare voters with fear-mongering propaganda warning that Issue 1 will "rig the system" and "end majority rule."  This is all disinformation!  

Here is an example of a mailer from opponents of Issue 1 that is nothing more than propaganda.

One way opponents cloud Issue 1 is by confusing voters into thinking majority rule is over if it passes.  This could not be further from the truth.

When it comes to voting on issues or introducing new laws for the ballot, NOTHING CHANGES!  Issue 1 is about amending the state constitution, NOT legislation and other issues.  The majority will continue to rule as it always has.  Laws and issues will continue to be introduced and voted on according to simple majority rule of 50% plus 1.

Issue 1 Isn't Being "Snuck onto the Ballot" 

Opponents claim that Issue 1's backers purposely snuck it on the ballot for a low turnout August special election.

This is also a lie.

Why wasn't Issue 1 on the May primary ballot then?

Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, DID try to get Issue 1 on the May ballot.  LaRose's efforts were thwarted when House Democrats teamed up with RINO Republicans to elect Jason Stephens as House Speaker instead of Derek Merrin.  Had Merrin been selected as speaker as planned, Issue 1 would have been on the May ballot.  

Issue 1 and the Big Picture

While Issue 1 boils down to making it more difficult to amend our state constitution, there are other benefits to its passage that protect families and freedom.

Ohio has been a red state for decades, which means it's pretty resistant to the decimating policies that are rampant in the nation's largest blue cities.  People like George Soros are funneling money through the ACLU and Planned Parenthood to defeat Issue 1. 

Since radical progressive policies find no foothold in Ohio, these same radicals are trying to find loopholes that would allow them to manipulate our state constitution through the amendment process.  Our constitution should not promote political activism!

To be clear, our state constitution enshrines our rights and should never be used as a legislative tool.  Soros and his ilk plan to bypass proper legal channels (where they are repeatedly defeated) and come in through the back door to impose their radical ideology on Ohioans.

If Issue 1 is defeated, it will open the door to amending the constitution to promote abortion and transgender surgeries for children without parental consent.  Other amendments will follow that will be designed to hurt small businesses and legalize drugs while being anti-police, anti-farmer, and anti-family.

Amending Our State Constitution Should Be Difficult

A Constitution is a stable and sturdy framework for government.  It is meant to work for everyone for the long haul, and it's a document that creates a separation of powers by outlining processes and procedures--all while cataloguing our freedoms.  

The Ohio Constitution should be amended only rarely and only then with a supermajority of support.

It would be wrong to use the constitution to legislate by masquerading political whims of the time as amendments.  Voting no on Issue 1 would only serve to weaken this important document.  How?  Unlike legislation, every constitutional amendment is written in stone, and it can't be altered in any way, shape, or form without another constitutional amendment.

Issues like abortion are not constitutional rights and should be decided by legislation where the wording can be debated, adjusted and voted upon by the majority, not pushed through via an iron-clad constitutional amendment. Codified law belongs in the Ohio Revised Code, not our state constitution.

Opponents question, "Why now?"  They argue the current 50% plus 1 structure has worked for over 100 years, so why should anything change?

The answer is simple--we are living in volatile political times where government agencies are being weaponized against the people, such as the DOJ, FBI, IRS, and CIA.  If radical ideologues can harness the power of our state constitution and wield it against us, they will.  As a result, our constitution will strip us of freedom rather than guarantee it.

Vote Yes on Issue 1!

Our founders created a constitutional template for government that has rarely been altered, and it has allowed our country to thrive for over 230 years--all while maintaining a system of checks and balances to protect us from tyranny.

Ohio should follow suit and safeguard our state constitution from manipulation and weaponization by requiring a 60% supermajority to amend it.  It's just common sense.  Voting YES on Issue 1 will preserve our freedoms, protect our families, and provide equal representation to all Ohio citizens.

VOTE YES on August 8!