Hicks-Hudson Commends Certification of Voters Bill of Rights

Today, state Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) commended the unanimous Ballot Board decision to certify a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment, also known as the “Ohio Voters Bill of Rights.”

“The Ohio Constitution places the power in the hands of our citizens, and I am pleased with our actions this afternoon,” said Hicks-Hudson, who serves on the Ohio Ballot Board. “By placing a straightforward issue before the voters, it should provide clear language for the citizens to decide on how best to protect our access to the ballot.”

The proposal would enshrine fair and free access to the ballot for Ohio voters in the state constitution, including securing in-person early voting, automatic voter registration at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), requiring the state to make reasonable accommodations for voters with disabilities, and ensuring that voter fraud is a criminal offense.

This decision comes after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Attorney General Dave Yost unlawfully blocked the amendment. Now that the amendment has been certified as a single issue, petitioners can begin collecting signatures for the next phase of the ballot process.