{"id":348,"date":"2023-04-13T16:58:05","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T16:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/ohio\/articles\/fight-to-defend-citizen-led-ballot-initiatives\/"},"modified":"2023-04-13T16:58:05","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T16:58:05","slug":"fight-to-defend-citizen-led-ballot-initiatives","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/ohio\/articles\/fight-to-defend-citizen-led-ballot-initiatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Fight to Defend Citizen-Led Ballot Initiatives"},"template":"","class_list":["post-348","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry","article_type-blog-post"],"acf":{"details":{"summary":"","featured_image":null,"article_type":153,"authors":null,"related_issues":[86,420],"related_work":false,"location":null},"sidebar":{"helper_enable_sidebar":false,"helper_media_contact":{"heading":"Media Contact","manually_enter_person":false,"person":null,"name":"","role":"","phone":"","email":""},"helper_links_downloads":{"heading":"Links & Downloads","links":null}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"\"\"\r\n\r\nYou have probably heard about<\/span> House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR1)<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR2)<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> similar efforts to amend the Ohio Constitution and <\/span>raise the threshold for passing a citizen-led ballot initiative to 60 percent.<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nAnd you\u2019ve probably heard us describe these resolutions as <\/span>power grabs<\/b>, a threat to democracy and <\/span>one person, one vote<\/span><\/i> in Ohio.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nWith important proponent and opponent hearings on HJR1 scheduled for next week, <\/b>we want to take a moment to explain why we feel stopping these bills is so critically important\u2014in fact, it is the <\/span>MOST<\/b> important fight for Ohio. You can read the info in this email in this <\/span>blog post<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nWhat is direct democracy? <\/b>Usually, we vote for representatives and they create new laws. In 1912\u2014during the era of robber barons when the state legislature was unresponsive to the people\u2014Ohio voters created a new state Constitution which included the ability for citizens to change the Ohio Constitution <\/span>directly<\/b>. For over 100 years, Ohioans have been able to band together, create a proposed change, and, if they collect enough voter signatures, place their proposal on the ballot for voters to approve or disapprove. For example, in 2006, Voters approved raising the minimum wage (56.65% of the vote).<\/span>\r\n

Learn more about Ohio Ballot History <\/b>HERE<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\r\nDirect democracy gives power to the people.<\/b> It\u2019s the only way we can push back when the gerrymandered legislature is unresponsive to the needs and concerns of the majority. <\/span>Raising the pass rate for a ballot initiative to 60% would give a <\/b>minority of voters<\/b> permanent veto power over the majority in Ohio. <\/b>Some people\u2019s vote would count more than others\u2019. This would lead to less power for the people, and more power for the legislature.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nTo make matters worse, the Ohio representatives who want to \u201cprotect\u201d our Constitution by raising the pass rate for ballot initiatives are trying to rush through HJR1\/SJR2 and place it on the ballot in an August special election. <\/span>HB144 & SB92 are companion bills to create an August Special Election just for this purpose.\u00a0<\/b>\r\n\r\nBut wait, didn\u2019t the legislature just get rid of August Special Elections? <\/i><\/b>Yes they did, in December 2022, because, in the words of Sec. of State Frank LaRose, \u201cThese unnecessary \u2018off-cycle\u2019 elections aren\u2019t good for taxpayers, election officials or the civic health of our state. It\u2019s time for them to go!\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nBut now LaRose and others have changed their tune. <\/b>They feel it is urgent to push HJR1 through in August (when few voters go to the polls), so the new rules will apply ahead of any initiatives that may make it to the ballot this November. Specifically they are worried about the Reproductive Rights initiative. <\/span>Heaven forbid that Ohio voters be allowed to weigh in about this important issue.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\r\n\r\nNo matter where you are on the political spectrum or what issues you care about, access to the ballot is part of our fundamental rights in Ohio and a way to get around a rigged legislature that just doesn\u2019t care. <\/b>Giving 40 percent of voters veto power over everyone else undermines majority rule and the legitimacy of our democracy.<\/span> Choosing to change the Ohio Constitution for political expediency means that a minority of voters could get in the way of reforms for years to come, including a redistricting reform effort to establish an independent redistricting commission.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nWe hope now that you know a bit more about why we care so much about this issue you will be moved to take action! <\/b>Here are several ways you can get involved.<\/span>\r\n

    \r\n \t
  1. Attend<\/b> next week\u2019s hearing to <\/span>give<\/b> testimony<\/b> or just to <\/span>show support<\/b>. (Details below.)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Attend an <\/span>HJR1\/SJR2 testimony training<\/span><\/a> at 3pm, Friday, April 14 (tomorrow!) for tips on how best to have an impact.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Email your legislators<\/span><\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
  4. Make calls to your reps<\/span><\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
  5. Write a letter to the editor<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nHJR1 is the only item on the agenda at next week\u2019s hearing in the <\/span>House Constitutional Resolutions Committee<\/b>. Opponent testimony and a possible vote are scheduled for <\/span>9:00 am, Wed. April 19, in Room 017 <\/b>in the Statehouse, near the museum in the crypt.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nOpponent testimony must be submitted to Rep. Phil Plummer\u2019s office by Tuesday, April 18 by 9:00 am. <\/b>To submit opponent testimony:<\/span>\r\n