By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
Ohioans will head to the polls on August 8th for an important vote that may have impacts for decades to come.
Issue 1 is a proposed Constitutional Amendment and “Elevates the standards to qualify for an initiated constitutional amendment and to pass a constitutional amendment.”
Information listed on the upcoming ballot shows the amendment will “require any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio receive the approval of at least 60 percent of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment.”
Furthermore, it will “require that any initiative petition filed on or after January 1st, 2024, with the Secretary of State proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio be signed by at least five percent of the electors of each county based on the total vote in the county for governor in the last preceding election.”
The ballot also specifies that “additional signatures may not be added to an initiative petition proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio that is filed with the Secretary of State on or after January 1st, 2024, proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio.”
If passed, the 60% threshold would take effect right away, and any changes to signature gathering would be in place starting January 1st, 2024.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com