Ohio voters could see record-setting number of state issues
The Nov. 6 general election could see a record number of statewide ballot initiatives.
According to a report in the Dayton Daily News by Jackie Borchardt, "Four ballot initiatives are tied to unsatisfactory or stalled legislation: Two medical marijuana amendments (Ohio Medical Cannabis and Ohio Alternative Treatment), regulations for dog breeders (Ohio Dog Auctions Act) and removing redistricting power from elected officials (Ohio Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission.)"
State officials have approved ballot language for seven possible amendments for the November general election.
Last week, the Ohio Ballot Board, chaired by Secretary of State Jon Husted, determined that two proposed constitutional amendments concerning redistricting reform and marriage each contained only one issue.
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Under the procedure for a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment, petitioners are required to collect 385,253 signatures, which is equal to 10 percent of the total vote cast for governor in 2010.
As part of the total number of signatures needed to place a measure on the ballot, petitioners must also have collected signatures from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties, and within each of those counties, collected enough signatures equal to 5 percent of the total vote cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election, 2010.
"Legislative districts drawn to favor one party or another have produced a polarized General Assembly, Ann Henkener, spokesperson for the group behind the redistricting amendment and board member of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, told the DDN.
“(A petition) is our only alternative when the Legislature is really not getting to the needs of middle Ohio,” Henkener said.