In a recent letter to the editor two arguments were made in favor of Issue 1. The arguments were that requiring 60% approval to change the constitution will prevent extremist views from becoming law and that a constitution should be difficult to change. I would like to address these issues.
I don’t see how Issue 1 will prevent extremist views from impacting the constitution. If it passes, 41% of voters can stop a law that 59% of voters want. That 41% holds a fringe perspective and is overriding the mainstream position.
Citizen-initiated constitutional amendments give voters a means to reign in extremist politicians. The Larry Householder / First Energy scandal clearly indicates that Ohio has a problem with corrupt politicians manipulating the system for their own benefit. If our elected leaders create laws that violate our wishes, we can change those laws by changing the constitution. I would prefer that citizens had the ability to change laws without having to change the constitution, but we do not have another option. Some private organizations such as the League of Women Voters regularly host conventions in which members can directly alter the policy of the organization through a simple majority vote.
Our problem with extremism in Ohio is rooted in the state legislature, which does not reflect the ideology of the voters. We are a red state, with approximately 55% of Ohioans favoring the Republican party and 45% favoring the Democratic party. However, about 78% of our state senators and 67% of the representatives are members of the Republican party. If the composition of the legislature more closely reflected the composition of the voters, then our elected officials would be forced to moderate their views and compromise when they draft laws.
Ohio’s extremist legislature is the product of gerrymandering. The only way to stop gerrymandering is to have a non-partisan process for drawing the legislative districts. A non-partisan process would create districts that keep communities intact and allow us to better advocate for our interests. The only way we can get a non-partisan redistricting process is to pass a citizen-led constitutional amendment. If Issue 1 passes, a fringe group of 41% of voters can stop redistricting reform. Issue 1 will increase the impact of extremism in our state, not reduce it.
Debbie Dalke
Bowling Green
