DeMora Condemns Issue 1 Ballot Language Mismanagement by LaRose

Today, state Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) issued the following statement after it was discovered that an incorrect version of the ballot language for Issue 1 was sent to all county boards of elections. Issue 1 is the proposed constitutional amendment that would strip Ohioans of their ability to change their constitution.

“For as much as Secretary of State Frank LaRose wanted this election, it’s surprising just how incapable he is in actually administering it,” said DeMora. “This latest screw-up is wasting precious time and taxpayer money.”

The office of the Secretary of State sends out the language required for all ballot issues to each county board of elections so that each county can print their ballots. On June 13, Secretary LaRose’s office provided written instructions to county election officials that included an incorrect version of the ballot language when elections officials are already under significant pressure to administer a last-minute August election. Now, elections officials must rush to correct the error in order to begin military and overseas absentee ballot voting on June 23. This comes after the Ohio Supreme Court, on June 12, ordered that the original language drafted by the Secretary of State’s office was intentionally misleading to the voters.

The proposed amendment, State Issue 1, will be on the ballot on August 8. Senator DeMora urges all Ohioans to reject this Republican power-grab and vote no on Issue 1.