The Ohio General Assembly has voted to allow for an August special election this year, even though they had also voted to ban the August special election just one month before. Despite the fact that August elections had so recently been outlawed due to having traditionally been expensive, low-turnout elections, statehouse lawmakers have now hypocritically put many Boards of Elections (BOE’s) in dire straits by mandating that an August special election take place with only a few month’s notice. As a result, we are seeing BOE’s struggle to find volunteers and staff to work the polls on August 8th. The special election is going to cost Ohioans millions of dollars regardless of historically low voter turnout.
To add insult to injury, our upcoming August 8th election only has one issue: Issue 1 – a ballot issue cooked up by corrupt politicians in Columbus that, if successful, would raise the threshold for voters to pass constitutional amendments from a simple majority (50% + 1) to 60%.
This, on its own, would make it near-impossible for Ohioans on either side of the aisle to pass constitutional amendments, big or small, and would effectively nullify the power of our votes and our voices for statewide issues. It doesn’t stop there, however, because Issue 1 would also greatly increase both the number of signatures required and the number of counties in which they need to come from, in addition to removing the 10-day cure period for petitioners to gather additional signatures if not enough signatures were validated upon review.
Governors, state attorney generals, and others across the state from both parties and everywhere in between have come out against Issue 1 because it would effectively end majority rule in Ohio. We are one of only a lucky handful of states where citizens have the power to put constitutional amendments on the ballot when our current constitution or elected officials fail to meet the needs of the moment. It’s upon these foundational principles of fairness and the rule of the majority that our democracy was founded, and that’s why we have to act when these principles are threatened.
For these reasons, I am urging everyone to vote “NO” on August 8th. I believe, as I’m sure many of us do, in a democracy where the people have the power to decide what happens to our great state and its constitution. Rigging our elections against the majority of Ohioans by attacking that belief will benefit no one, no matter where you stand. Today, July 10th, is your last day to register to vote or update your voter registration. Early voting begins tomorrow, July 11th, and the special election will be on August 8th. Vote “NO” on Issue 1.
With love for our democracy,
Damon Sherry
Candidate for Bowling Green City Council, Ward 1
