“No on HJR 1 and SJR 2: Protect the Voice of Ohio Voters,” hosted by Ohio Education Association

Wednesday, May 10, 12:30pm, Trinity Episcopal Church on Capitol Square, 125 E. Broad St.

Two proposed constitutional amendments seek to weaken the voice of voters. It’s time to stand up and fight back. House Joint Resolution 1 and Senate Joint Resolution 2 (HJR 1 and SJR 2) would make it much harder to pass citizen-initiated constitutional amendments in our state by requiring a supermajority of 60% of the vote.

Legislators are considering rushing these issues to the ballot with an August special election. We must come together to protect the fundamental right of Ohio voters to decide critical issues at the ballot box.

For more than a hundred years, Ohioans have had the power to set the policy agenda for our state and enshrine rights into our state constitution through direct democracy. Citizen-led constitutional ballot initiatives are never undertaken lightly. To place a constitutional amendment on the ballot, citizen groups are required to collect nearly half a million verified signatures from at least half of Ohio’s counties. Changing the rules so only 40% of voters can block the will of the rest of the state’s citizens when these issues are on the ballot is undemocratic, unfair, unpopular, and unnecessary. These measures undermine the will of the people and are unacceptable.

We must come together to protect the ability for a majority of Ohio’s voters to decide critical issues at the ballot box. Don’t allow politicians in Columbus to ignore the will of the people. Use the provided talking points and sample letter to urge your legislators to oppose HJR 1 and SJR 2.

Talking Points

• HJR 1 and SJR 2 are attacks on the basic democratic principle of majority rule. It makes it so 40% can block a proposed change. This weakens the voice of Ohio voters and ignores the will of the people.

• The right to amend the constitution through direct democracy gives voters the power to address issues that are being ignored by the legislature. Now, legislators are trying to undermine that right.

• Some legislators are trying to rush toward an August election to change the constitutional rights that Ohioans have had for more than 100 years.

• These proposals are unfair, undemocratic, unpopular, and unnecessary. They are bad for all Ohio voters.

Click here to oppose HJR 1 and SJR 2.

Hosted by Ohio Education Association.