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Those urging a yes vote on the Aug. 8 Issue 1 ballot initiative, such as pro-life groups, argue that raising the threshold would make such efforts more difficult and put up safeguards to prevent out-of-state money from being used to hijack the ballot initiative process in Ohio.
Pro-life organizations are urging Ohioans to vote yes on tomorrow’s referendum that would change the way constitutional amendments are adopted in the state. Early voting has been heavy, with more than 570,000 votes cast — a high turnout for an off-year August election.
Issue 1 would raise the threshold needed to adopt a constitutional amendment via ballot initiative from a simple majority to 60%.
Although Issue 1 would not directly affect any issues other than the constitutional amendment adoption process, it has become a proxy fight for a variety of political issues, which include abortion, minimum wage, and gun control. Individuals and political interest groups have spent about $20 million for or against the initiative and about 84% of that money came from out of state.
The current 50% plus one threshold has been used by interest groups to push for policies that would likely not pass through the Legislature or be signed by the governor.
Pro-abortion advocates, who have not had success in expanding abortion through the elected Legislature, are trying to do just that in November. Ohioans will vote on a Nov. 7 referendum that proposes amending the constitution to declare “every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions.”
The proposed pro-abortion amendment would only allow the state to regulate abortion once the child is “viable.” This usually occurs at about 24 weeks, but the amendment language allows the treating physician, who will oftentimes be the abortionist, to determine whether the unborn child is viable on a case-by-case basis. The amendment also does not establish an age limit for this right, which some fear would strip away parental rights when a minor is seeking an abortion.
Continued below.
www.ncregister.com
Pro-life organizations are urging Ohioans to vote yes on tomorrow’s referendum that would change the way constitutional amendments are adopted in the state. Early voting has been heavy, with more than 570,000 votes cast — a high turnout for an off-year August election.
Issue 1 would raise the threshold needed to adopt a constitutional amendment via ballot initiative from a simple majority to 60%.
Although Issue 1 would not directly affect any issues other than the constitutional amendment adoption process, it has become a proxy fight for a variety of political issues, which include abortion, minimum wage, and gun control. Individuals and political interest groups have spent about $20 million for or against the initiative and about 84% of that money came from out of state.
The current 50% plus one threshold has been used by interest groups to push for policies that would likely not pass through the Legislature or be signed by the governor.
Pro-abortion advocates, who have not had success in expanding abortion through the elected Legislature, are trying to do just that in November. Ohioans will vote on a Nov. 7 referendum that proposes amending the constitution to declare “every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions.”
The proposed pro-abortion amendment would only allow the state to regulate abortion once the child is “viable.” This usually occurs at about 24 weeks, but the amendment language allows the treating physician, who will oftentimes be the abortionist, to determine whether the unborn child is viable on a case-by-case basis. The amendment also does not establish an age limit for this right, which some fear would strip away parental rights when a minor is seeking an abortion.
Continued below.
Ohioans Go to the Polls Tuesday for Vote That Could Determine Abortion Laws
Those urging a yes vote on the Aug. 8 Issue 1 ballot initiative, such as pro-life groups, argue that raising the threshold would make such efforts more difficult and put up safeguards to prevent out-of-state money from being used to hijack the ballot initiative process in Ohio.
