this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2023
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Voters in Ohio went to the polls to decide whether to approve a measure known as Issue 1​ that would raise the bar for constitutional amendments on the ballot. In the ultimate irony, the vote against changing the amendment process exceeded the 60% supermajority that the special election was seeking to require in the first place.

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[–] AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.world 161 points 1 year ago (5 children)

One part of the proposal that wasn't getting as much attention is that it upped the requirement for ballot measures from having to get signatures in 44 districts (half of them) to needing signatures in all 88. That was to try and suppress grass roots efforts from even getting on the ballot. Such an undemocratic bunch of chucklefucks.

[–] cloaker@kbin.social 51 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Holy shit. That would have meant almost no grassroots ballot measures would get off the ground. People would be forced to hire groups all across the state to drive and get signatures from random rural fuck off counties.

[–] aircooledJenkins@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] cloaker@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

terrifying. Here in Aus my state requires a simple majority. There would be riots, good on you Ohio.

[–] buttsbuttsbutts@lemmynsfw.com 20 points 1 year ago

It also removed the signature curing period, meaning that there is no second chance to get more signatures or any of the originals get thrown out. For example, there is a recreational marijuana initiative that people are trying to get on the ballot in November. When they turned in signatures, it was found that they were, iirc, 639 signatures short. Under the current rules (which will remain) they had 10 days to come up with what they needed. Last I saw, they had gotten over 6,000, so that's cool.

[–] emanon458@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Such an undemocratic bunch of chucklefucks.

I believe the term is ratfuckers.

[–] PeckerBrown@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I live where IN, OH, and KY meet. 'Pigfuckers' would be closer to the truth, but I won't quibble.

(Source: gigging musician who sees 'closing time' on the reg.)

Ratfucker Chucklefucks.

[–] Dark_Arc@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

This is what angered me the most about this issue. I'm happy my fellow Ohioans were able to see this for the power grab that it was.

[–] notabird@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Did they sneak it in as part of issue 1?

[–] mithbt@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

It was always part of Issue 1. The 3 big changes for issue 1 were:

  1. Change the number of counties requiring signatures for ballot measures from 44 (half the counties in Ohio) to 88 (all of the counties in Ohio). If I remember correctly, that's 5000 signatures from each county.

  2. Remove petition curing period so that if some counties fell short of the required number of signatures or if some signatures were rejected or disputed for whatever reason, there would be no time to get more. I think the current curing period is a week.

  3. Require a super-majority (60%) for a ballot measure to pass, rather than a simple majority (>50%).

To me, the least troubling of these was the super-majority part that's been so hyped up, because the first 2 changes would have made it near impossible for voter-led initiatives to even get on the ballot to begin with. The only ballot measures we'd ever have a chance to vote on would be whatever the state house deemed worthy. All to prevent a ballot measure this November that would allow abortions for non-viable fetuses.

[–] roguestew@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

Regarding point 2, it's interesting to note that the cannabis organization initiative fell short by nearly 700 signatures just a couple of weeks ago. During that curing period nearly 7000 signatures were obtained.

This initiative easily had enough support to get put on the ballot, but issue 1 sought to make it so bills in this situation would be dead in the water. An active subversion of the will of the people.

[–] Pons_Aelius@kbin.social 144 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If I read this correctly, a supermajority of voters decided that a supermajority should not be required to amend the constitution.

Sounds like a win to me.

[–] Chetzemoka@kbin.social 25 points 1 year ago

That is correct. Such a delicious win.

[–] kaitco@lemmy.world 44 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

It’s at 58% reporting. I’m not relaxing until it’s at 80%+.

I voted three weeks ago, but this whole time I’ve been wondering if I can stay in this state if this managed to pass. My hope is that the No vote comes to 60%; the irony would be delicious.

Edit: Okay, it’s 91% reporting at 56.6% No. I feel good about this one. Good work folks!

[–] 0110010001100010@kbin.social 48 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

It's at 70% reporting now. The AP called it saying it was impossible to switch to a yes given the districts reporting. The "no" still has a healthy lead at 57%. Pretty sure Ohio kicked the GOP right in the proverbial balls. Also, (at the moment) 2.3 MILLION voters turned out for an August special election with this being the only issue?!

EDIT: Just hit 80% reporting and still at a 57% no. Fuck yeah fellow ohioans!

EDIT 2: Just crossed 90% reporting and still at a 57% no. Democracy wins!

[–] girlfreddy@mastodon.social 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@0110010001100010 @Chetzemoka @kaitco

I don't have a horse in this race but I wanna cheer anyway. \O/

[–] Chetzemoka@kbin.social 22 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If you're American, you definitely do. Republicans have tried this same strategy before and will try again. Like notorious conservative apologist, David Frum, said, "If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy."

Celebrate this win with us

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 41 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yet another instance of the GOP getting their asses handed when abortion rights are on the ballot.

Dems need to lean into this in the general.

[–] los_chill@programming.dev 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This is the roadmap for swing states. Especially rust-belt or blue-collar states. Abortion, personal freedom and autonomy. These elections are better than polls. This is how you win, dems. Branch off of it, but for goodness' sake hammer it home.

Edit: spelling

[–] snownyte@kbin.social 28 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

If this is an indication of anything, how does the GOP feel about their chances going into next year knowing that they're the party that gutted abortion rights? Yeah you're not winning presidency and you can kiss those mid-terms goodbye too, assholes.

The only way these assholes are gonna win anything, is if they abuse their power within Congress and the Supreme Court.

[–] Spacemanspliff@midwest.social 18 points 1 year ago

Oh don't worry, if they see any chance to abuse their power and potentially get away with it, they won't even dream about giving it a second thought.

[–] 0110010001100010@kbin.social 28 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yay! Proud to say I was a part of this as were my wife and daughter! We all voted early on Saturday. Huge kudos to the MASSIVE turnout to shoot this down, sometimes you can be alright fellow ohioans.

[–] Dark_Arc@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Thank you all for your votes (also a part of this one) :)

[–] Default_Defect@midwest.social 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Perhaps I've been too harsh on Ohio...

[–] Nevermore9197@lemmy.world 26 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The people of Ohio are generally very centrist to left leaning. We however have been so (illegally) gerrymandered that it certainly doesn't appear that way. Rural Ohio is Conservative just like everywhere else in this country.

When decisions are made democratically, as this was, we usually make the correct decision. That's why the right tried to take this away from us.

[–] geogle@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Eh oh, way to go Ohio

[–] MedicPigBabySaver@lemm.ee 15 points 1 year ago

Smart move Ohio voters!

[–] randon31415@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago

"Overwhelmingly", yet if issue 1 was in place and people were voting to get rid of it, they wouldn't have reached it's threshold. Shows how undemocratic it would have been.

[–] SeaJ@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago

Republicans purposely made this seemingly decent legislation complete shit. It makes sense to have a higher threshold for constitutional amendments. But 60% makes it nearly impossible. And this did not require its own 60% bar to pass. And it required getting signatures from all districts instead of just half which would mean only larger organizations could do it. All of it was bullshit. They went for a very thinly veiled power grab and the people told them to fuck off. Well done Ohio.

[–] broguy89@lemm.ee -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The article says 57% voted no, not 60%.

[–] Dark_Arc@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] QHC@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

That is less than the proposed change which invalidates the "irony" angle. Pretty significant detail in context.