As we approach the August 8th election, I write to draw the attention of all Wood County residents to Issue 1, a proposed amendment that will drastically alter the way we amend our state’s constitution.
On the surface, Issue 1 may seem like a harmless change of rules simply requiring a higher threshold for amendment passage. Upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that this amendment, rather than fostering democracy, will, in fact, undermine it. Issue 1 would impose a supermajority requirement of 60% for any ballot initiatives to amend the state constitution, an excessive benchmark that is damaging to the spirit of majority rule inherent in our democratic process. Even if as many as 59% of voters support an initiative, it would still fail under Issue 1, effectively tossing aside any semblance of equal representation in voting and rendering the basic principle of “one person, one vote” a thing of the past.
Consider the landmark measures that have shaped Ohio in the last century: the Clean Ohio Fund in 2000 that enabled us to sell environmental bonds, the increase in our state minimum wage in 2006 that sought to uplift workers’ living standards, the restrictions on businesses using the amendment process to form monopolies in 2015, and countless other measures that have bolstered our economy, modernized our education system, and enacted necessary prison labor reforms – all would have failed to pass under Issue 1.
Equally alarming is the realization that crucial civil rights advancements, such as allowing people of color and women to serve in the Ohio National Guard, and the removal of the phrase “white male” from our constitution regarding voter eligibility, would have also failed under Issue 1. These transformative legal measures have been key in promoting equal rights in our state, yet they would have been denied by the proposed amendment.
Issue one also adds the unnecessary financial burden of holding an August election, which has been outlawed by the same Republican officials that now expect you to spend $20 million in taxpayer dollars to hold one. This comes at a time when Ohioans are still reeling from the financial fallout and increasing electricity costs associated with the bribery scandal of House Bill 6, and Rep. Haraz Ghanbari’s decision to send Ohio taxpayer dollars to fund two Eisenhower-era coal plants, one being in Indiana.
It is clear that this election, like the continuing effects of the House Bill 6 scandal, is another unnecessary expense thrusted upon Ohio taxpayers by out-of-touch politicians in Columbus. Millions of dollars, which could have been channeled into critical public services or economic recovery efforts, are instead being funneled into an election that, as per the law the State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari voted for, shouldn’t be happening at all.
Issue 1 is therefore a dual threat issue: it not only jeopardizes our democratic process but is also set to recklessly spend state resources at an inappropriate time. We must take a stand against such unwarranted financial burdens and question why our elected officials are capitulating to the money flowing into the effort to pass Issue 1 from out-of-state billionaire Richard Uihlein. I implore the residents of Wood County to explore this issue fully and make an informed decision. Visit www.votenoinaugust.org for more information on the potential effects of Issue 1.
I urge every Wood County resident to stand together against needless expensive elections, and send a message to the out-of-state billionaires and out of touch politicians that your voice matters by voting NO on or before August 8th to preserve our one person one vote system in Ohio.
Zach Schmidt
Rossford
