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COLUMBUS (April 25, 2023) — The Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA) opposes the initiative to amend citizen-led ballot initiatives requiring a super majority for passage.
“The present system of citizen involvement has served Ohio well for many years,” said Philip E. Cole, executive director of OACAA. “While we favor initiatives to improve democracy, we believe that moving to a super majority vote requirement will do the opposite and inhibit the voices of Ohio’s citizens.”
The proposed resolution in the General Assembly would make it harder to pass citizen-led constitutional amendments by requiring 60% of voters instead of the current 50% plus one. Citizen-led initiatives would also require twice the number of county signature requirements moving from 44 participating counties to 88.
“The system we have now to amend Ohio’s constitution is strong and lets a majority of the voters decide,” said Cole. “This initiative, if passed, would lessen the voices of Ohio citizens on issues Ohioans have said are important like minimum wage, gerrymandering, and abortion rights. Majority rule should continue to be the law.”
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