Voting is underway for the special Aug. 8 election that could make it harder to change the Ohio Constitution.
On this week's episode of Snollygoster, Ohio's politics podcast from 星空无限传媒, hosts Mike Thompson and Steve Brown discuss the messaging around Issue 1, which could raise the threshold to change the Ohio Constitution.
Early Voting Begins On Issue 1
A yes vote on Issue 1 would make it much harder for citizen groups to get on the ballot and then require a 60% majority to pass future amendments. Currently, constitutional amendments must pass by a simple majority of 50% plus 1.
The vote no side has a pretty clear and consistent message. They argue this amendment would destroy majority rule, would end the practice of "one person, one vote" and they also claim special interests are pushing this effort.
The vote yes side鈥檚 messaging has been a little more diffuse and has changed over the past several months.
Here are some of the reasons supporters said we need tougher standards to change the Ohio constitution.
- To protect the constitution from special interests - in particular out-of-state special interests. Although the pro-Issue 1 campaign has been bankrolled by Republican megadonor Illinois billionaire Richard Uihlein.
- To protect ag