Buckeye Reporter

State Rep. Ron Ferguson of Ohio's 96th District has endorsed Ballot Issue 1, and has further urged Ohioans to vote in favor of the measure on Aug. 8 when it will be on the ballot. 

According to a previous report by the Buckeye Reporter, Ballot Issue 1 was placed on the August ballot due to the passage of House Resolution 1 last month.

According to a release by GOP lawmakers, voting in favor of Issue 1 will help to strengthen Ohio's Constitution by raising the threshold for constitutional amendments to 60%. The measure would also require signatures gathered to support amendments to include voters from all 88 of Ohio's counties, and restricting "do-overs" on signature submissions, which would give special interests one chance to properly obtain signatures for a proposed amendment.

Ferguson alleged that "leftists" are seeking to take advantage of the current standards necessary to pass a ballot-driven constitutional amendment. “Defending Ohio’s constitution is a core value of our state," Ferguson said, "but radical Leftists seek to destroy it. Help me stop them by voting YES on Issue 1 on August 8.”

The Buckeye Reporter previously reported that "a roster of left-leaning advocacy groups" have come out against Issue 1. These groups include Black Lives Matter Cleveland, Black Lives Matter Dayton, Pro-Choice Ohio, Black Out and Proud, the Cleveland Bi+ Network, Columbus New Liberals, Democrat Socialists of America-Cleveland, Ensuring Parole for Incarcerated Citizens, New Voices for Reproductive Justice and the Ohio Federation of Teachers.

The Communist Party of Ohio also reportedly joined the Vote No in August coalition and recently gathered to “stand with drag queens and families” during a protest outside a "Drag Story Hour" event at the Near West Side Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio, according to the Cleveland Reporter.

The group Ohio Citizen Action also reportedly urged Ohioans in a video message to "celebrate Pride" by voting no on Issue 1. According to the report, the video featured multiple speakers, including two drag queens.

According to a press release, since 2000, there have been 16 petition-based constitutional amendments proposed in Ohio; five have passed and 11 have failed. Of the five that passed, three passed with 60% or more of the vote.