Ohioans from Both Parties Overwhelmingly Oppose GOP Efforts to Effectively End Citizen-Led Ballot Initiatives
May 2, 2023
Columbus, OH – Ohioans from across the political spectrum are speaking out against Republicans’ plan to effectively end citizen-led ballot initiatives in Ohio and force taxpayers to foot the bill for a $20 million special election in August.
“Republicans and Democrats in Ohio agree: the legislature should reject this clear power grab and attempt to end citizen-led ballot initiatives in Ohio. Ohioans are united in opposition against these political efforts to rip fundamental rights away from voters and create unnecessary, taxpayer-funded special elections in the process – now it’s time for their elected leaders to listen,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party.
Here’s what leaders of both parties are saying about efforts to effectively end citizen-led ballot initiatives in Ohio and create a special election in August to sneak through the measure:
Ohio Election Officials:
Stephanie Penrose, Director of the Trumbull County Board of Elections: “It’s almost a slap in the face to have the same legislature that just outlawed August elections, except for extreme circumstances, now just less than a year later putting an election on in August.”
Sherri Chagnon, Sandusky County Board of Elections Director: “We feel like we’re being ignored. And I think the taxpayers are being ignored.”
Laura Burns, Board of Elections Director in Miami County: “It makes me question the use of all that money when we know we’re not going to have turnout.”
Frankie DiCarlantonio, a Trustee of the Ohio Association of Elections Officials and a Board of Elections Member in Jefferson County: “This $20 million is definitely a burden to taxpayers. The taxpayers of Ohio just paid for a second primary election in 2022 that was state-funded as well…at the end of the day, we want to make this known that this may not be a good use of taxpayer dollars.”
Former Ohio Governors:
Republican Bob Taft: “I believe it would be a mistake to raise the voter approval threshold for amendments to the Ohio Constitution to 60 percent. If that threshold had been in effect during my time as Governor, two signature initiatives, the Clean Ohio Fund and the Third Frontier Project, would not have been approved.”
Democrat Ted Strickland: “I think it’s just a shameful arrogant action. And I think it is for one purpose, and that is to deprive Ohio women to have the right to an abortion. They think that by increasing the percentage required to pass a constitutional amendment to 60%, it will make it more difficult. I think it’s blatantly hypocrisy. A few months ago, this legislature passed legislation prohibiting in nearly all cases, an August referendum.”
Republican John Kasich: “Ohio is stronger when we can all lend our voices and we all have an equal chance to participate in the work of our state’s democracy. I’ve experienced that firsthand having policies backed by myself and a majority of the legislature’s members overturned at the ballot box and it never occurred to me to try to limit Ohioans’ right to do that. It wouldn’t have been right then, and it isn’t right now.”
Democrat Dick Celeste: “If they honestly thought that 60% of the vote was what should be required for a constitutional amendment, then they should write down language into their constitutional amendment and say, ‘This will only become effective if 60% of Ohioans vote for it.’”
Former Ohio Attorneys General:
Former Attorneys General Betty Montgomery, Jim Petro, Nancy Rogers, Lee Fisher and Richard Cordray: “Constitutions are designed to endure, and major changes in fundamental constitutional arrangements should not be made unless the changes are supported by a careful understanding of the policies being changed and the consequences of the proposed changes. Such changes should not be made without the opportunity for participation of those most intimately affected by the constitution—the people. Clearly, that has not happened in this rush to revise our constitution.”
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