Buckeye Reporter

Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) criticized a political mailer that promised to monitor the votes of Ohioans in the August 8 special election.

The mailer was sent out by the organization, One Person One Vote, in opposition to Issue 1, a ballot initiative that would require petition-based statewide constitutional amendments to pass with 60 percent of the vote, not simple majorities.

“Publicizing Ohioans’ voting histories to their neighbors might be legal, but that doesn’t make it right,” Stewart told Buckeye Reporter. “Most groups have the good sense not to pull intrusive stunts like this.”

"If you don't vote, One Person One Vote plans to tell your neighbors according to a flyer it mailed out," tweeted Toledo Blade reporter Mike Brice | Twitter

“Supporters of Issue One know we don’t have to intimidate Ohioans to convince them to vote yes,” Stewart said. “These are exactly the sort of creepy tactics from special interests that our measure seeks to protect against.” 

The front of the mailer sent to Ohio voters says, “We will be reviewing public records after the election to determine whether or not you joined your neighbors in voting.” 

"If you don't vote, One Person One Vote plans to tell your neighbors according to a flyer it mailed out," tweeted Toledo Blade political reporter Mike Brice.

A statement from Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R-Ohio) said of the mailer that, “It is ugly. It's mischief, but it is not illegal.”

One Person One Vote is a coalition of left-leaning advocacy groups opposing Issue 1. The coalition includes groups such as Red, Wine, and Blue, a Shaker Heights-based of "suburban wine moms," founded by political consultant Katie Paris, that's been fighting to keep pornographic books in Ohio K-12 school libraries," reported Cleveland Reporter.

Other groups opposing Issue 1 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, the Ohio Federation of Teachers, and the Ohio Communist Party.

Stewart joins U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) and Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R-Ohio) in supporting the initiative.

Vance endorsed Issue 1 in a new online video, saying that, "radical activists want to change the Ohio Constitution and strip away parental rights on August 8th."

Including Ohio, currently 15 U.S. states allow for statewide initiatives to change their constitutions, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Dakota. 

Illinois, Arizona and Florida have 60 percent vote thresholds; Colorado's is 55 percent.