Buckeye Reporter

Ohio State Rep. Marilyn John (R-Richland County) recently endorsed Ballot Issue 1, set to appear on the Aug. 8 ballot.

John spoke favorably of the proposal's requirement for ballot initiatives to receive signatures from all 88 of Ohio's counties to be eligible for placement on the ballot, which John argues will help protect Ohio's Constitution from undue influence from special interest groups.

“Ohio is one of only a few states where changing our constitution requires only 44 counties and a simple majority vote," John said. "Join me in voting Yes on August 8th to protect our Ohio Constitution from outside interest groups.”

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

GOP lawmakers say voting in favor of Issue 1 will help 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.                 

Issue 1 will require signatures from voters in all 88 of Ohio's counties, according to a report from the Ohio Secretary of State's office. Additionally, the document states that "special interests will no longer be able to cherry pick where they gather signatures."          

The Buckeye Reporter has previously reported that "a roster of left-leaning advocacy groups," headquartered in larger cities, 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.  

Since 2000, there have been 16 petition-based constitutional amendments proposed in Ohio; five have passed and eleven have failed, according to the Ohio Secretary of State's office . Of the five that passed, three passed with 60% or more of the vote, the office said..