In 1912, Ohio citizens won the right to create new laws by placing initiatives on the ballot. Over the next 100+ years, citizens drafted and voted on more than 60 initiatives. Examples include banning taxes on food, raising the minimum wage, capping the cost of prescription drugs, setting term limits for some elected officials, and changing the procedure for drawing legislative districts.
Heads-up, fellow citizens, because our right to make these laws is under attack. Representative Brian Stewart, with the support of special interests and lobbyists, introduced House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR 1) in the General Assembly. If passed, the law would allow the will of the majority to be brushed aside. Instead of needing a simple majority to pass a ballot initiative, 60% approval would be required. To use a concrete example, suppose 59% of the voters wanted to lower the cost of prescription drugs, while 41% did not. HJR 1 would allow the 41% to overrule the majority. This is clearly unfair and undemocratic.
HJR 1 is also unnecessary. Under the current law, citizens must collect more than 400,000 signatures from registered voters to put an initiative on the ballot. Once on the ballot, there is a good chance the initiative will not become law, because voters have rejected more initiatives than they have approved.
Given how challenging it is currently for citizens to put an initiative on the ballot, and get it passed, the additional hurdles in HJR 1 are not needed.
HJR 1 is backed by politicians who want complete control over us. We can’t let them restrict our ability to influence how we are governed. We must defend our right to put forth initiatives and change our constitution to reflect the will of the people. Our democracy is worth fighting for.
Debbie Dalke
Bowling Green
