Vote 'no' on Issue 1
To the editor:
A special election is scheduled on Aug. 8 with only Issue 1 on the ballot. This is your opportunity to ensure that citizens will continue to have the right to present future citizen-initiatives for consideration.
As it stands now, Issue 1 would increase the threshold to amend the Constitution to 60 percent of voters statewide rather than the current and long-standing simple majority of 50 percent, making it virtually impossible to pass anything.
Proponents state this “protects the Constitution” which makes no sense as the existing process of majority rule has worked for 110 years. Since 1913, citizens have reviewed 71 citizen-proposed amendments and thoughtfully approved 20. Ohioans have protected the Constitution in the past with a majority and are capable of doing the same in the future.
The choice you have now is to keep the citizen-power we have or relinquish it to politicians and special interests. Because of a thirst for power, this special election was hurriedly scheduled after such elections were banned several months earlier by the same legislators. Their willingness to disrespect Ohio voters and use $20 million of taxpayer money to do it is astounding. Majority rule and democratic fairness are slipping away.
As a citizen of Ohio, only your vote can stop this attempt to take away your voice. Don’t let us be ruled by politicians and special interests. Vote no on Issue 1.
Sincerely,
Pamela Limes
Hillsboro
Comment
Vote "YES" on Issue 1
The Ohio Constitution is our most sacred state document and should be treated as such. Issue 1 is not designed to deprive anyone of their rights. By passing Issue 1, the people of Ohio will ensure constitutional changes are widely accepted and not brought about by special interest groups influencing a simple majority. Special interests should not be the ones pushing their social preferences and corporate motives onto us and into our constitution. When was the last time these groups had our best interest in mind? Instead, constitutional changes should be broadly supported by us and shielded from well-financed special interests. Vote "YES" on Issue 1....
Vote NO to stop EVIL politicians.
The legislature suddenly decides, out of nowhere, we have to have an election in the middle of August to change the Constitution? The same people that passed a law last year to eliminate August special elections, saying, “Interest groups often manipulatively put issues on the ballot in August because they know fewer Ohioans are paying attention.”
Issue 1 is nothing more than a ridiculously obvious power grab from a gerrymandered, unaccountable legislature to remove the only remaining method voters have to rein in politicians like Householder and Borges, to take away power from people and put it more firmly into corrupt politicians’ hands.
Vote "YES" on Issue 1
I'll start by saying that most of the time I'm not a fan of what our representatives do and I'm not a fan of special elections, but this time they got it right. If it passes, Issue 1 would require that changes to the Ohio Constitution be approved by a 60% majority of voters rather than the current 50%. We should support this change. This is actually a protection for us and ensures that amendments to our state constitution reflect the will of the majority of the people. This allows for changes to be made while at the same time protecting our individual rights. Our constitution should not be easy to change.
Do you want to make it easier or harder to vote away your Second Amendment Rights and prohibit you from owning a firearm? Do you want to make it easier or harder to legalize abortion up to (or after) the moment of birth? What about gender reassignment surgeries for kids, forced vaccinations, stripping away parental authority over your children or packing the court?
In the case of our Second Amendment rights in Ohio, one of the biggest protections we have is clearly written in Article 1, Section 4 of the Ohio Constitution. "The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security." That statement provides substantial legal protections for our gun rights. The Radical Left wants it repealed because if they ever got their gun-control agenda passed in Washington DC or Columbus, OH, Article 1, Section 4 provides the legal basis to have their gun-control laws thrown out as "unconstitutional." That is why the Radical Left is trying so hard to defeat Issue 1. They're calling in every Left-wing special interest group to try to make sure it is defeated: the ACLU, Moms Demand Action, Planned Parenthood, Bloomberg's Everytown for Gun Safety, Ohio Education Association, Ohio Students for Gun Control and nearly two hundred other Left-wing organizations. The way Ohio law currently stands, Soros, Bloomberg and any other wealthy leftists can come to Ohio, hire canvassers to collect the required petitions and get a repeal of Article 1, Section 4 of Ohio's Constitution on the general election ballot. Once they get it on the ballot, they can (and will) spend tens of millions of dollars in a statewide fake news media campaign to convince the public that repealing Ohio's Constitutional right to own firearms will make us safe. On a statewide election ballot, all they would need would be 50% + 1 of the votes cast to repeal it. This would then become the blueprint for making any changes to the Ohio Constitution that the radical left or special interests would decide to pursue.
Don't take my word for any of this. Do your own research. Educate yourself. This is actually happening in other countries and other states. I would encourage to Vote "YES" on Issue 1. We have a lot at stake here.
Who's trying to change the Constitution?
If "The Ohio Constitution is our most sacred state document and should be treated as such." why not include an amendment that requires 60% of the legislature to vote for a change?
Why do we suddenly need a election in the middle of August to modify how the people are allowed to do it? The current method has been working for them since 1912.
All Issue 1 will do is make it nearly impossible for citizen groups to amend our constitution; ending a right the people of Ohio have had for over 110 years.
Issue 1 will be the third time the General Assembly proposed a constitutional amendment in the last year. Who’s abusing the process again?
Vote "YES" on Issue 1
Issue 1 would apply only to attempts to amend the state constitution by the public. It is my understanding that an amendment to the U.S. Constitution may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one, by a convention called for that purpose. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures, or three-fourths of conventions called in each State for ratification. – source: www.whitehouse.gov. It should take a similar effort to change the Ohio Constitution.
Whether it’s R’s or D’s, they’re going to do what they think they need to do to win and just proposing a constitutional amendment multiple times does not qualify for abusing the process. I don’t necessarily agree with the August election date, but I wholeheartedly agree with the need for what approving Issue 1 would accomplish. If that takes an August election to do it, I’m all in. We currently have all kinds of special interest groups funded by the likes of George Soros and Michael Bloomberg trying to codify as a constitutional right every form of debauchery you can think of. For that reason, there is an urgency to get this done. Do you want to make it easier or harder to vote away your Second Amendment Rights and prohibit you from owning a firearm? Do you want to make it easier or harder to legalize abortion up to (or after) the moment of birth? What about gender reassignment surgeries for kids, forced vaccinations, stripping away parental authority over your children or packing the court? This is not just about one election or one issue. This would then become the blueprint for making any changes to the Ohio Constitution that the radical left or special interests would decide to pursue.
I would argue that a 60% approval rate to amend the constitution is not insurmountable. If an issue will pass at 50% and not 60%, there needs to be a better solution that is more broadly supported. That’s why there is tremendous opposition to Issue 1. They are looking for the easy kill with as little effort as possible.
There is an all-out assault to take this country down and destroy everything good about America. You’re not going to find out about this in the mainstream media, Fox News or any other major news networks. A lot of people that are trying to educate us on these issues are being censored. I’m not going to get off in the weeds, but ask yourself, is what is happening in this country for us or against us? We are somewhat sheltered from a lot of issues. Look at what is happening in other countries and other states. Think it can’t happen here? Think again! Whatever happens somewhere else can happen here. Anything worthwhile is worth working for. It seems like we should be willing to put in the extra work to come up with solutions that are supported by the most people. This is a serious issue with far reaching consequences beyond this election. We won’t get a do-over if we get it wrong. That's just my opinion.
Vote YES to help stop EVIL.
I'm not opposed to capital punishment for criminals but I draw the line at murdering innocent babies.
Issue 1 would apply only to attempts to amend the state constitution.
The measure, if voters approve it in August, can save countless lives of innocent Ohio babies and prevent potential abortion-rights amendment(s) in November.