As impending restrictions on democratic practices were put into place, Ohio congressional representatives temporarily shut down the session with a chorus of “One person, one vote!”
Following a 62-37 vote, Republicans in the Ohio General Assembly have set the table for a state-wide plebiscite that would raise the conditions for a constitutional amendment. Senate Joint Resolution 2 is designed to make all changes to the Ohio state constitution require 60%+1 of the total vote to pass — as opposed to the typical 50%+1. Additionally, new ballot initiatives would need to secure signatures from 5% of the electorate in all 88 counties, as opposed to the 44-county benchmark.
The bill passed the Ohio Senate last month. The possible change will now go to voters in a special (and revived) August election, which will, ironically, only need half of all votes to become law.
“SJR 2 is a terribly unfair and undemocratic proposal on its best day,” wrote Gary Daniels, the chief lobbyist of the Ohio chapter of the ACLU. “On all the other days, it is a rapid, reckless attempt by politicians to seize direct power from Ohio’s people and make them hostages to, instead of welcome participants in, the direction of our state. Especially when abortion rights and legislative districts are in play.”
That appears to be the logic behind the Ohio GOP’s shifting of the goalpost: In November of this year, Buckeyes will head to the voting booth to decide on a state constitutional amendment that would protect the right to abortion. Similar initiatives in Kansas and Michigan were passed last year with 59 and 57 percent of the vote, respectively.